tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9747058973819298262024-02-19T11:20:34.168-08:00that's troublingkatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-89172323077871375742019-02-13T07:15:00.000-08:002019-02-13T07:15:17.625-08:00Waiting to be Perfect<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">I have been a perfectionist ever since I can remember. In
middle school, if I didn't perfectly right my name, class name and date in the
top right corner of my assignment, you can bet it was getting thrown into the
trash and re-written. As an adult, I can't go to bed if there is a pile
of clothes sitting on the floor and I can't leave work until the finished
product of a project is up to my insane standards (that nobody asked
for). I never feel safe putting something out there or living in a way that
isn't absolutely perfect. Of course, I am aware, this has a lot to do
with control and the comfort that it gives me. But it also speaks to how
harsh I am on myself and that I see no room for error when it comes to me--I'm
far more forgiving of other's. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">I bring up this topic because I
think it is something a lot of other people do. I don't think I'm alone
in this insane quest for perfection but I also think it is an issue that mostly
women struggle with. Actually, I know it is. Studies have shown that women
take <a href="https://hbr.org/2013/02/do-women-take-as-many-risks-as">less
risks than men</a> and are more likely to not apply for a job unless they
are<a href="https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified"> 100%
qualified</a> (i.e. a perfect fit).</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">There are many reasons why
women are this way, a mix of biological and social factors. Taking all of
this into consideration, while at the same time ignoring it, I have been
thinking a lot about why I don't feel comfortable doing something new or scary
until I know I'm perfect at it. This is really coming into light as I
make my journey into teaching boxing. Although I have been boxing for
over 7 years now, I have told myself a thousand times that I am not good enough
to teach and have convinced myself that no one would ever look to me for
direction or advice. After all, in my eyes I have SO MUCH to learn and wouldn't
want anyone thinking I was arrogant enough to believe that I had all the
answers on this topic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">And even though my husband,
friends and even my mentors have been telling me I should teach but I kept
doing that "no, no, no" thing until I thought about why I was the
only thing standing in my way. People had approached me about teaching, I
had taking teaching courses, and I had made mental note of what I liked/didn't
like about varying teaching styles in my 7 years. Why was I acting as the
main barrier in this progress? Why was I letting the fact that I wasn't
perfect hold me back? And as I thought about it I realized that this was
a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. I felt I wasn't good enough to do
this so I never would be good enough. Because we all know that the only
way to be good at something is to JUST DO IT! Getting out of your own
way, as cliché as it may sound, is usually what is preventing you from finding
your greatness. It's you that is making the "you can't do it"
voice louder than the "I'm doing it voice". I've realized that it’s
time to stop being the only person in my life convincing myself that I can't take
a big step and join the group of incredible people in my life cheering my on!</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-33303699758522304402018-06-05T13:16:00.004-07:002018-06-05T13:16:59.955-07:00Lessons I'm Taking into Marriage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyCYPxjG676Dp1ZMTXeWAofyvTC6njobtpl0rT7Nl1uKafy_WWxX5B29cPFn7kFd8Ahi29Hdmh2qPDTi8gXxpXfe7Hvu2sI3gt6LZu3NNhcRc3bfwpBQPOM6CnZwbt7EV5WmXRDRuXXo/s1600/Katia-1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyCYPxjG676Dp1ZMTXeWAofyvTC6njobtpl0rT7Nl1uKafy_WWxX5B29cPFn7kFd8Ahi29Hdmh2qPDTi8gXxpXfe7Hvu2sI3gt6LZu3NNhcRc3bfwpBQPOM6CnZwbt7EV5WmXRDRuXXo/s400/Katia-1-3.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I know it has been said before, but growing up I was never one of those girls who dreamed of getting married. I was never the typically cute girl in middle school/high school and I didn't realize that it was possible that one day the person I had a crush on might like me back. Having never dreamed about the big day with the white dress, I always just hoped I would meet someone who was as into me as I was into them, made me laugh, and made me feel like I could unapologetically be myself. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I found that in my husband. Aside from being the person that everyone in the room loves, he has made me realize what true love is, and what respect in a relationship means. When we got engaged a year ago I was less excited to plan our wedding, than I was to collect life lessons that I should be carrying with me into our marriage. Because I recognized that as incredible as your wedding day is, it eventually fades and the foundation of your relationship along with what you decide this new chapter in your life will be ultimately is left standing. That being said, I am so happy to now be married to my best friend, and these are the lessons I am taking into our forever:</span></div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Maintain your sense of self, even though you are now one. Continue to have "me" time, different interests and varying ideas of the perfect day.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Put your phone down and acknowledge one another. Don't let your partner walk into the house without acknowledgement and warmth. Because without these walls, they are your home and its in your best interest to nurture it.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't go to bed angry. An age old one--but really a night of sleep loss is worth the resolution.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You are different. Remind yourself that there will always be things they are better at, and things you're better at. Hoping for them to suddenly be how you are will only end in disaster.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Communication is key.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Never stop laughing. If a day comes where I am not laughing in pain at least 5 times, I will be extremely alarmed.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do things you don't want to. For Carlos, its going to bed at 10pm some nights. For me, its enduring the sounds of drum & base blaring through speakers.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Never disrespect one another. As heated as arguments may get, as upset you as you may feel, the basis of your relationship should always be respect.</span></li>
</ol>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-69709811290953095422018-02-16T09:07:00.001-08:002018-02-16T09:07:12.211-08:00Starting a Conversation: Debt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnIFXgEZHNXT-RO6a8Ih1svaI-n10-fkIFleA4SaIhnVCVErV8CIg2D-YXD06qjsB3r63LogX1pi0vQmklHmRubSFdsKNIWAUL71Y4MGHjHnXqkSDyjd3eh5vtqbknQC4uZJO6JIN-aM/s1600/debt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1024" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnIFXgEZHNXT-RO6a8Ih1svaI-n10-fkIFleA4SaIhnVCVErV8CIg2D-YXD06qjsB3r63LogX1pi0vQmklHmRubSFdsKNIWAUL71Y4MGHjHnXqkSDyjd3eh5vtqbknQC4uZJO6JIN-aM/s320/debt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Today I did something a bit revolutionary for me: I cut up my credit card. I have never been a big credit card spender. I tend to charge a little here, a little there, and almost always its on something I can live without. Just looking at my purchase history on my credit card its exclusively comprised of clothes I didn't need, dinners I could have gone without and crap I can't even excuse (hair perfume from Sephora has and never will be a necessity). But this big step for me is part of a bigger step that I really want to tackle: becoming completely debt free.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">It's extremely disappointing to me that my generation never wants to talk about money but is so obsessed with making more of it and showing it off any chance they get. Social media has made it very easy to compare what you don't have to what everyone else does. It can be extremely depressing scrolling through Instagram, constantly wondering "How the <i>fuck</i> is she affording that?". This comparison to others is an entirely different problem, but why don't we ever talk about how we are (or aren't) affording that? Why is it still taboo to talk about money? And why aren't we honest about our debts?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I recently watched a video by vlogger <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKATNCe5k0Q">Aja Dang </a>that I found incredibly refreshing. I had watched Aja's video's in the past for an escape from my own reality. She's smart, entertaining, beautiful, in great shape, and overall a great distraction from the dirty dishes in my kitchen sink. So when she posted a video revealing her student loan debt, I was really taken aback. I thought this girl was perfect--I mean none of these vlogger girls have any real problems right? At least that's the narrative I would tell myself when I compared my life to theirs. It was so damn refreshing to hear someone talking openly and honestly about money. It gave me perspective on my own life (and my own debts), reminding me that I am not the only one with a little baggage. Aja now vlogs her bi-monthly budget which she says keeps her accountable, but it also inspires the hell out of me! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">So here goes: I am not perfect. I have some baggage. Some financial baggage. And that is OK. What I have decided is not OK is sitting back and doing nothing about it. Considering that I am getting married in a couple months, I can think of no better time than now to come up with a concrete plan of tackling my debts so that we can live with less anxiety and more freedom. My fiance is truly the bees knees and I would never want to be a burden to our love. Being that we struggle to fight about anything, I would hate it if money became a point of conflict. In an effort to avoid any of that happening, and to hopefully inspire a few of you to have honest discussions about money, I am listing all my current debt below in the order I plan on paying it off. Full transparency. Because this kind of stuff only gets worse living in the shadows. Considering that our generation is the first in American history that is projected to do <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/young-money/most-millennials-seen-worse-off-than-parents-despite-aptitude-study">worse financially than their parents</a>, we need a bit more financial honesty!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Credit Card</b>: $930.44 (Goal: payoff by March 31, 2018)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Auto Loan</b>: $10,700 (Goal: payoff by January 31, 2019)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Graduate Student Loans</b>: $98,000 (Goal: payoff by March 1, 2023)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a start (and a big step for me) but it will be something that I document here, sharing my process for tackling my debts and what works/doesn't work for me. While this is all extremely scary, and a bit embarrassing to document, I think it could be extremely powerful in starting a conversation about money within our generation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-10323144841755526982016-02-25T08:46:00.002-08:002016-02-25T08:47:03.798-08:0027 to do before 28<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ah 28! That's a scary thought. Anyways, 27 has been a number that has always been very present and recurring in my life and while I tend not to look too deeply into things like that I do think this will be my best year ever! Making this list a little late, but already it is a wonderful year..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Run another half marathon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Start training for a full marathon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Visit a new country (Thailand plllllease!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Buy less things I don't need (this will probably be the hardest one)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Save at least $6k by the end of the year</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Learn to ride a motorcycle</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. Get stronger and stronger</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. Complete a Spartan Race</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Meditate</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Get better at rowing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">11. Minimize/simplify my home</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">12. Continue building strong female friendships</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">13. Grow my hair long again</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">14. Trying camping (I promise!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">15. Cook more for people I love</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">16. Travel more (locally and beyond)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">17. Be kinder and not take out life's frustrations on those I love</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">18. Give more time to the man I love and adore</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">19. Rest more (this has been difficult lately, sadly)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">20. Drink MORE coffee (goddamn right)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">21. Start my practicum for school and figure out exactly what I want to do with this adult life</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">22. Cut out all the negativity</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">23. Gossip less</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">24. Get one more piercing (or maybe two)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">25. See Beyonce with the strong women I love and adore</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">26. Take time in the summer to lay in the sun and do nothing (truly something I've never done for very long)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">27. Go see the California Poppies </span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-56656782222799986682016-01-12T15:29:00.001-08:002016-02-25T07:51:44.439-08:00Final Update: 26 to do before 27<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">26 was the best year EVER even if I didn't reach all my goals...but I know 27 will be my best year yet, back to the drawing board!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-decoration: line-through;">1. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>Read 1 book a month: 12 total/year</strike> Textbooks count too, right?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>2. Run a half marathon</strike> I ran 2!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>3. Visit a new country</strike></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>4. Save enough money to buy a new car</strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">5. Do </span><a href="http://www.salvationmountain.us/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-decoration: none;">Salvation Mountain</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>6. Start grad school</strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">7. Go to New Orleans, LA</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">8. Take a salsa dancing class</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">9. Attempt camping at least one more time</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>10. Make more plants for friends/family</strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">11. Do volunteer work</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>12. Continue the healthy kick I've been on</strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>13. Learn to relax and accept the things I have no control over</strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>14. Learn to cook at least 10 new dishes</strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">15. Finally go see the </span><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-decoration: none;">Antelope Valley poppy reserve</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> in the Spring</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><strike>16. Take a break from technology more</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>17. Get back to writing again, whether it just be for me or otherwise</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>18. Get better at Pilates</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>19. Love more, be aggravated less</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">20. Hike <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/guide/pine-ridge-trail-to-sykes-hot-springs" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Pine Ridge Trail</a> in Big Sur</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">21. Sleep in a yurt because c'mon why not?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>22. Get more organized in my work</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">23. Learn to ride a motorcycle, even if it gives my parents a heart attack</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">24. Read up on transcendental meditation</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">25. Get back into reading/writing in French so that I am competent enough to pen a letter in the language</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>26. Take more polaroids</strike></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-45245983477780228632015-01-09T14:21:00.001-08:002015-01-09T14:21:37.122-08:0026 to do before 27<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh 26, so far so great. Let's make it an accomplished year!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
1. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read 1 book a month: 12 total/year</span><div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Run a half marathon</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Visit a new country</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Save enough money to buy a new car</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Do </span><a href="http://www.salvationmountain.us/" style="font-size: small;">Salvation Mountain</a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Start grad school</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">7. Go to New Orleans, LA</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">8. Take a salsa dancing class</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Attempt camping at least one more time</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Make more plants for friends/family</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">11. Do volunteer work</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">12. Continue the healthy kick I've been on</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">13. Learn to relax and accept the things I have no control over</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">14. Learn to cook at least 10 new dishes</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">15. Finally go see the </span><a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627" style="font-size: small;">Antelope Valley poppy reserve</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> in the Spring</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">16. Take a break from technology more</span><div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">17. Get back to writing again, whether it just be for me or otherwise</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">18. Get better at Pilates</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">19. Love more, be aggravated less</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">20. Hike <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/guide/pine-ridge-trail-to-sykes-hot-springs">Pine Ridge Trail</a> in Big Sur</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">21. Sleep in a yurt because c'mon why not?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">22. Get more organized in my work</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">23. Learn to ride a motorcycle, even if it gives my parents a heart attack</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">24. Read up on transcendental meditation</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">25. Get back into reading/writing in French so that I am competent enough to pen a letter in the language</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">26. Take more polaroids</span></div>
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katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-59044638734106051682015-01-03T21:33:00.000-08:002015-01-03T21:33:55.428-08:00Final Update: 25 to do before 26<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8858719180347148276" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 606px;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.4;">Well haven't I been just the worst at keeping up with this thing? 2014 was a tough year, but I definitely grew. I grew stronger, smarter and into a better version of myself. So with my 26th birthday just days away, let me recap the goals I have accomplished/neglected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.4;">1. Visit a new country</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>2. Start saving more</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>3. Open a retirement account (yikes!)</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>4. Take my GRE Exam and apply to grad school</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>5. Do more with my hair and get out of the habit of boring looks</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>6. Keep up with my fitness and continue to work out four days a week</strike> I work out 6 days a week now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>7. Drop 5 lbs</strike> Dropped 10lbs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">8. Take a break from technology more often</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">9. Take a trip to Big Sur</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">10. Do volunteer work</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>11. Take more pictures of friends and loved ones, because I know I will treasure every photo as the years pass by</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>12. More long walks and activities after work (i.e. don't allow myself to get so tired after work!)</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">13. Send letters to friends abroad MORE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>14. Read 10 books</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">15. Be the kindest I can be to others and work on my temper (especially while driving)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>16. Go on more hikes (because Los Angeles is beautiful)</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>17. Drive much, much less</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>18. Consume less celebrity gossip (sorry, it's my weakness)</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>19. Get strong enough to do 10 pull ups (sounds easy but soooo is not)</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>20. Go make-up free more</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>21. Become better at time management (I'm pretty good with this already, but I know there are minutes that add up to hours that I am wasting!)</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>22. Get a couple more holes in my ears</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>23. Cook more veggie meals</strike></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">24. Do Angel's Flight in DTLA</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strike>25. Drink more wine (because I don't do it enough and it makes me happy!)</strike></span></div>
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katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-41692633433992179942014-02-04T13:50:00.000-08:002014-02-04T13:50:01.839-08:00recent realizations<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. The city of Los Angeles give you no incentive to abide by the law. Dealing with my awful hit & run accident from October has shown me that despite having video & photos of the incident and basically all the information you could need to catch a person, people suffer no consequences for the actions. Where is the justice?!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Beyonce can do everything we normals cant. Case in point: <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/beyonce-wears-minnie-mouse-hat-3111256">hats with ears</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Aquafor is better than all else. Don't even bring that burts bees mess in my vicinity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Sushi burritos exist and they are EVERYTHING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. People who constantly talk about sex/boys on social media are most definitely terrible at life</span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-14256606841498571812014-01-31T12:00:00.004-08:002014-01-31T12:00:53.052-08:00how a promotion helped me swim again<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="." src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/50046869b5d795b8b5dc45bada6cc2f8/tumblr_mp1zsmIoLP1r9qhhio1_500.jpg" height="640" width="611" /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have never, ever been the kind of person who looks to their job for gratification or some fulfillment of happiness. Sure, days are easier when you like your job--but when it comes to happiness the last place I'm looking is my professional life. A job is a job is a job. Whether its your dream job or a job for the now, it should be what you do not who you are At least that is my perspective--life, friends and family is where I find my happiness. Even still, the last year had been very tough on me. I had been in a job I didn't really like very much because I wasn't challenged and undervalued. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I constantly felt bored, having an hour every day between tasks to troll Etsy for things I didn't need and would never buy. And even though I was very good at my job and always got verbal praise, the financial praise never came. No one ever seemed interested in giving me more work, even though it seemed like I was begging for it at times; whenever a position in my department opened up with room for growth I was constantly told that in time that would be appropriate for me, but for now I needed to grow more. Grow? I felt like I was bursting at the seems waiting to be challenged, to be engaged, to do more! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The straw that broke the camels back came last May. It started with management asking to me to help on some administrative stuff on the submission of a multi-million dollar grant. You know, no big deal just stuff like numbering pages, changing headers. Essentially looking for consistency. But after a few days I started to feel like things were really started being dumped on me. I was being asked to do research, change budget number, collect signatures on contracts, and a whole slew of things that went beyond my pay grade. All I kept thinking was how these things were so not my job, and I would be open to doing these things except there actually is someone who is paid to do these things. There is someone who was given this job because they were classified as competent. And oddly enough, this person had no clue what they were doing and shuffled through papers whenever someone pointed out this incompetence. Yet here I am, the dummy of all dummies, doing work that someone else is getting paid for while simultaneous being told that I am not at the level I need to be in order to have a position like that. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When all was said and done, I found myself having racked up 15hrs in overtime in one week, working at my cubicle through the weekend, and being only one of two people helping with the submission that came down to the wire. And what was my thank you? A bonus? A promotion? Ahhh you all are just dreamers! I came to work on Monday morning to find a $10 Starbucks gift card sitting on my keyboard. In that moment the rage boiled over to the point where I took the gift card straight to the shredder and let that baby die. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">From that day I knew I had enough and it was time to move on. The thing about not being valued is that it begins to take a real toll on how you view yourself. At first I thought maybe I wasn't working hard enough which was why I wasn't being recognized for my work. Then as I worked harder I thought maybe I wasn't showing how I could go above and beyond. Then when I went above and beyond and beyond and to infinity and beyond and still got no recognition, I thought there really just must be something wrong with me. I must be doing something wrong that people don't see my effort. These feelings never took a toll on my work ethic, but rather on my self worth. I am someone who has worked since I was 13 yeas old. I was always told how good I was at my various jobs and often promoted or praised for my efforts. What was I doing wrong this time?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">After months of these feelings I knew I had to do something to get the ball rolling for things to change. Finally I took a leap (after much encouragement from my boyfriend and family) and applied for a job that, in my head, was way out of my league. To my surprise I got an interview, and to my even greater surprise I got the job two hours after I walked out of the interview. Glowing with happiness and excitement, I locked myself in the office next to my cubicle and did a dance and leap for this fresh start that at times felt like would never come The following Monday I informed my superior that I got a promotion and would be leaving the department. And rather than experiencing happiness and showing support for me moving on to bigger and better things, the reaction was less than I expected. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The strange thing was, every one of my peers was so happy for me but every one of my superiors met me with the same reaction. "Oh, you're leaving us? Oh my god. Um okay. Well I guess congratulations. That's good for you. It's going to be so tough to figure everything out before you leave." Words that I so desperately needed to hear. Because in that moment I realized exactly why I wasn't getting anywhere even with all my hard work. It was in that moment that I realized that people are willing to hold you back so that they can keep you and not have to search for someone to fill the very big shoes you have created. The old cliche that people will hold you back so that they can get ahead wasn't applicable in this situation. People were holding me back so that I wouldn't realize my full potential and to make feel as though my only option was to swim in place. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Two weeks into my new job and I couldn't be happier. I have pushed away all that negativity and harbored resentment that I held for so long and feel this flush of positive energy. Everyone around me seems genuinely happy to have me here and finally, after three years of it sinking to the bottom, my confidence in my abilities and work have swam to the surface again. </span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-88587191803471482762014-01-29T10:30:00.000-08:002014-01-29T10:30:28.864-08:0025 to do before 26<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yikes! 26! I'm already super feeling 25. I have an amazing new job, very happy in my personal life, love where I live, and finally feel like adulthood has a nice rhythm to it. So here it is, my ambition list of 25 things to do before I'm 26!</span><div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Visit a new country</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Start saving more</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Open a retirement account (yikes!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Take my GRE Exam and apply to grad school</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Do more with my hair and get out of the habit of boring looks</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Keep up with my fitness and continue to work out four days a week</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. Drop 5 lbs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. Take a break from technology more often</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Take a trip to Big Sur</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Do volunteer work</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">11. Take more pictures of friends and loved ones, because I know I will treasure every photo as the years pass by</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">12. More long walks and activities after work (i.e. don't allow myself to get so tired after work!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">13. Send letters to friends abroad MORE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">14. Read 10 books</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">15. Be the kindest I can be to others and work on my temper (especially while driving)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">16. Go on more hikes (because Los Angeles is beautiful)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">17. Drive much, much less</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">18. Consume less celebrity gossip (sorry, it's my weakness)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">19. Get strong enough to do 10 pull ups (sounds easy but soooo is not)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">20. Go make-up free more</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">21. Become better at time management (I'm pretty good with this already, but I know there are minutes that add up to hours that I am wasting!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">22. Get a couple more holes in my ears</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">23. Cook more veggie meals</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">24. Do Angel's Flight in DTLA</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">25. Drink more wine (because I don't do it enough and it makes me happy!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-88472215370544517032014-01-09T13:23:00.002-08:002014-01-09T13:23:38.115-08:00Final Update: 24 to do before 25<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I had a birthday on Tuesday, so it's time to revisit my list of goals:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>1. Fix up my bike/get a new bike and ride more. Winter weather seems to have slowed me down.</strike> <b> I didn't fix up my bike but I definitely rode more this year. Not as much as I would have liked, but I did.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>2. Move.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Visit a couple more states I've never been to, maybe a country. <b>Sadly, I did not go anywhere new, but Chicago is in my future in 2014, and if I'm lucky so is a new country.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>4. Continue eating healthy and drinking lots of water each day.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>5. Focus on stressing less and remembering the important things.</strike> <b>This is always a work in progress though. I still have a long ways to go.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>6. Write more. Lots more.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Buy an espresso machine and make more coffee at home! <b>Didn't happen. Not even close</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>8. Pay off half of my last student loan.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>9. Be more open to things that are either a little scary or not necessarily my first choice.</strike> <b>I went camping this year for the first time every so I consider this very accomplished.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>10. Start to exercise a bit. Some Pop Physique classes here and there along with hikes. My non exercise routine will catch up with me!</strike><b> I completely kicked this goals ass! Literally! I've been kickboxing four days a week for the past four months.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>11. Spend more time with my family.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">12. Do more freelance work. <b>Unfortunately, I only got two pieces freelanced this year. But to be fair I've been busy studying for the GRE</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">13. Take French II, again. <b>Again, the option in my head was to either start studying for the GRE or get back into French. French lost.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>14. Keep my relationship strong and wonderful.</strike> <b>This is always a work in progress and I hope to be better and more patient as time goes on.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>15. Try to wear more heels. This isn't a promise, but a possibility. I am always the shortest person in the room.</strike><b> I'm still a flats person, but I wore heels more this year than most.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">16. Go to Palm Springs in the summertime.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>17. Go camping for the first time.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>18. Spend less time reading celebrity gossip on my computer and spend that time reading more.</strike><b> I still love my trashy news though</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">19. Bake at least five cakes. The last two times I made cakes they seemed to go horribly wrong, but I will not be discouraged! <b>Nope, not even close.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>20. Discover a new artist.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>21. Start writing cards for friends/family more.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>22. Create a delicious cocktail.</strike> <b>Hot toddies have been a staple at my house lately</b></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><strike>23. Learn to cook a few more recipes from my grandmother's cookbook.</strike></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">24. Ride a scooter (the motorized kind!).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">17 of 24 aint so bad in my opinion. 25 to do before 26 coming soon!</span></span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-89276530189290388802013-12-26T14:45:00.003-08:002013-12-26T14:48:44.407-08:00home sweet home<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh lord, I know it's been a while but honey the holidays don't play. I've been quite busy and good things are in the works and it seems the universe is finally listening to my voicemails, begging for a positive change. Aside from that, my lovely apartment has been coming together very nicely mostly thanks to all the eyegasms Pinterests offers me on the daily. Here are a few of my favorite homespirations!</span></div>
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<img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/f2/7b/61/f27b61f2050eb4ec34f70a77be3d9702.jpg" width="240" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e1/35/63/e135634a854d8d415a57e1647869f351.jpg" width="212" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/3b/77/54/3b77547dec5efc8dbd23f4493d8f9782.jpg" width="255" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fe/7d/ee/fe7dee6173c8e4af1ae9828a31106ed1.jpg" width="269" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d2/21/51/d22151378920692260c815f0d824bc57.jpg" width="213" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/35/f3/12/35f3125764701e6411beb66760727a6a.jpg" width="240" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/64/59/6f/64596f57a87f43df59ad679e249bc45b.jpg" width="213" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/7c/ea/c9/7ceac9b30719294193f70a6c1231a475.jpg" width="212" /><img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ae/e6/0d/aee60d26d336aff81f370e3004439022.jpg" width="223" /> <img alt="." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/9f/f1/16/9ff116119f06f281186292e3f26c24db.jpg" width="213" /> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">source: all<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/"> Pinterest</a></span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-32457126203413697812013-11-19T14:55:00.003-08:002013-11-19T14:55:43.335-08:00Things I bought recently and didn't hate<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;">
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/things_bought_recently_didnt_hate/set?.embedder=102416&.svc=copypaste&id=104454022" target="_blank"><img alt="things i bought recently and didn't hate" border="0" height="640" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/ilrEEyM0yYq60zbk0mvNGA/cid/104454022/id/JIhEfGtR4xGKO1SdNxsv_g/size/c600x626.jpg" title="things i bought recently and didn't hate" width="612" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">1) My new, very cherished <a href="http://www.zara.com/us/en/woman/blazers/motorcycle-jacket-with-zips-c269184p1295449.html">faux leather jacket</a> is the compliment magnet I hoped it would be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2) Yes, <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/chinese-laundry-indigo-girl-bootie/3594700">these boots</a> are as bad ass in person as they look in photos. And they're comfortable!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3) <a href="http://www.goyard.com/">Goyard</a>, my new happy place.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4) <a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-micro-bubble-glass-vase-brown-6-65/-/A-14523493?cpng=tarc&ref=tgt_adv_xasd0003&afid=2845&clkid=737980455&lnm=4-120857"> New vase</a>, perfect for the too many flowers I buy too often.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5) I bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Seasonings-Jammin-Herbal-20-Count/dp/B007V2L8SS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">this tea</a> because of the image on the box. That should tell you the age of my brain.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6) The <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-overdyed-grove/pink/200DIRE1C-508.html">prettiest rug</a> for my very white apartment. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7) Because I ripped my last<a href="http://www.hm.com/us/product/14915?article=14915-A"> faux leather pants</a> getting into a truck. Yup, they were tight. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essie-Nail-Polish-Marshmallow-Ounce/dp/B000142C1A">Marshmallow</a> nails, and on my plate please!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9) To feed my new kickboxing addiction I bought an <a href="http://www.foxyandfierce.com/">unlimited monthly membership</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whered-You-Go-Bernadette-Novel/dp/0316204269">New book</a>, because I need some lolz in between studying for the GREs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">11) It took me a while to pick <a href="http://www.zappos.com/nike-flex-experience-run-2-anthracite-fushion-red-flash-lime-atomic-pink">new running shoes</a>, but these were the pretty winners.</span><br />
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katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-64936427676029576192013-10-09T10:45:00.000-07:002013-10-09T10:45:01.411-07:00recent realizations<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Autumn might be my most unproductive season. I know I professed my love to it, but the only thing that appeals to me right now is sitting at my cubicle with my space heater (not that it's that cold outside, but it is always around 60 degrees in my office) and look through Pinterest for Halloween costume ideas.</span><div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. That reminds me, if you have a child you are not allowed to have a sexy costume. Once you have opened up your womb you have revoked your right to be a sexy school girl, sexy Kermit the Frog, sexy whatever. I'm really just done seeing a sexy Dorothy holding her daughter in the demure version of the costume...what are you teaching? If you need any inspiration of what type of person your daughter should be dressing up as, take notes from <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/see-the-5-kick-ass-women-this-mom-dressed-her-daughter-as-instead-of-a-disney-princess">this mom</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. I feel very strongly that if Congress can't get to work then I shouldn't have any taxes revoked from my paycheck during this time. It seems like a fair trade off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. If you can afford fancy new shoes you can afford to buy new light bulbs to replace the burned out ones in your apartment. This is a note to myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. The MAJOR downside of getting your ish together and working out 3-4 times a week means I now must wash my hair more often. Who is funding this shampoo habit?</span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-19995957674913184232013-10-04T14:23:00.004-07:002013-10-04T14:27:40.526-07:00Rules everyone should abide by in a group fitness class<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="." height="400" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c6/6b/05/c66b05b27ba582b199abd9e655439a4a.jpg" width="266" /><img alt="." height="400" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c1/60/e5/c160e5f30724d278c83bf1bf7fd0e974.jpg" width="266" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Recently, I have taken
up kickboxing, and if you've spoken to me in the last month you will know
that I am absolutely in love with it and probably will never set foot in a gym
again. It is the best workout I have ever had, it doesn't make me feel
weak or slow (unlike some ballet barre classes where the instructor asks
you to put one leg on the bar, an arm holding a ball and another arm in the
air. Sorry, you lost me at leg.) and I love that there are girls of all
different body sizes/types doing the same workout and making it work out for
them (see what I did there?). I've really come to love the idea of a
group class. It holds you accountable because, unlike the gym,
you can't cancel the day of and if you walk out in the middle of your workout
everyone will notice and your teacher will probably chase you to find out
what's up. It also isn't a meat market, which I find to be the case at the gym,
especially when I catch girls in full-faced makeup, an arm full of bangles, and
a push-up bra. This isn't the club, slow down and wash your face. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Group workouts are
great, until they're not. What I mean is, I have some serious pet peeves
when it comes to being in a workout class. Take note, because I
know I'm not the only person who is secretly hating you in their heads
if you do any of these things:</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Don't talk during class. An <i>occasional</i> (and
I use this word very strongly) "Woo!" is fine, but if you are having
a full on conversation with your friend on the mat next to you, it's time to
take your ass to the juice bar downstairs, because I can't hear the instructor
screaming my next move while you talk about what you're doing later. This
also applies for conversations had in languages other than English, because
then I can only assume you're talking about how awful all of us look as we
sweat in the ultrasexy position of bicycle kicks. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pop a mint. I can't tell you how many
times in the last few weeks alone I will be holding punching pads for a
classmate and that first jab hits my pad with the same intensity that her
gnarly breath hits my nostrils. A simple Altoid will do wonders.
You're body looks great, and I would love to talk about what you eat to
stay in impeccable shape, but I don't want to smell it because at
this point I'm just going to assume you're eating Indian Food with kimchi for
every meal. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wear a sports bra. If it has lace, it's
not a sports bra. You may think you look sexy with your
Agent Provocateur bra peeking through your Lulu Lemon, but you look
tacky. And bras are expensive. Don't demean them by sweating all
over your pretty underthings! This also goes for girls who don't wear a
bra at all because they think they're small enough to go without one. I
have news for you, I can see your nipples and they look miserable from the
chafing. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Keep grunting to a minimum. And by minimum I mean 0-1 times during class. The most
distracting thing is to have a girl in class who grunts with the frequency and volume of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LawWhZcmV0"><span style="color: blue;">Maria
Sherpova</span></a>. They're jumping jacks, they're not murder (nor sex
for that matter). I'm going to have to side with<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foghjPNshM4"><span style="color: blue;"> Larry
David </span></a>on this one and just tell you to stfu. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wipe off the equipment you use.
I could care less if you don't wipe your face when you're sweating like
Patrick Ewing, but clean off your mat and weights you animal! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">If you follow these
rules the only thing people will be able to hate you for is how effortless you
look during a side plank. Please and thank you from any one with manners
and human decency. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image credit: Paris Vogue</span></span></div>
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katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-73586659163965597412013-10-02T10:46:00.000-07:002013-10-02T10:46:09.491-07:00Dearest Autumn,
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=974705897381929826" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9c/2f/36/9c2f36c73f624c0c0889d0895a9ebcb9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="." border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9c/2f/36/9c2f36c73f624c0c0889d0895a9ebcb9.jpg" width="265" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh Autumn, how I love thee. People around me can't understand my love for you. But each time I catch a glimpse of you, my heart's desire is renewed. You comfort me with sweaters, coats and socks. You change green pastures into beautiful golden colors of red, yellow and orange. I wait, tirelessly, nine months out of the year to be with you. And although you only grace this part of the globe with your presence so briefly, often shorter than the three months I am promised on my marked calender, I savor ever moment. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">For how could I prefer a season of blazing heat or rainy clouds? How could I find pleasure in all that sunshine or gloom? I adore you for your mixture of both. You are unique and silly in a way that makes me always carry a jacket with me everywhere I go just in case you decide to drop 10 degrees within 10 minutes. You sway me to cook comfort food and put cinnamon in my coffee. Autumn, it is you that makes me want to take up knitting and pie baking. Two things I know I will never do, but your beauty and moderate climates is what makes me really believe that this is the year that I will. Oh Autumn please stay forever. It is you that gives me a cold nose when I ride my bike. It is you that makes me pair tights with every outfit I own. You bring squash to farmer's markets and pumpkin flavored everything to every place you touch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Autumn, it is you that makes me happier than I have ever been. You drop leaves all over an otherwise bare sidewalk. They decorate the streets like a magical city. But, alas, I have on request: please stop with this death spikes you drop from your golden pastures. Goddamn it if you drop one more of those spikey tree balls on my head one more time! Like honestly mother nature, what purpose do those damn things serve?!</span></div>
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katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-38514935544967079222013-09-17T09:40:00.001-07:002013-09-17T09:40:14.586-07:00recent ralizations<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Sometimes you have to toot your own horn or no one will do it for you. This is especially true when it comes to jobs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. I swear, Apple makes sure everyone's iPhone's start to act up as soon as they announce a newer model is coming out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Free cake makes everyone a little less irritable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Can everyone agree that social standard is to stand two-three feet away from the person in front of you in line? If you can count the hairs on their neck, you're too close!</span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-11073557843030121492013-09-03T12:13:00.000-07:002013-09-03T12:16:11.511-07:00friendships of the ages<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/20/26/c9/2026c940ca4f956893429020eb371ef4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="." border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/20/26/c9/2026c940ca4f956893429020eb371ef4.jpg" width="284" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">As a preface, I will say this is almost a follow-up to <a href="http://thatstroubling.blogspot.com/2013/04/lady-seeking-lady-platonic.html">this entry I wrote</a>. I say "almost" a follow-up, because it isn't really an update, just some more thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">What makes friendship something worth investing in? Something worth nurturing like a new pair of squeaky clean shoes? Pardon the simile. Some might think a new pair of shoes is no way to refer to a friendship, but I beg to differ. Just think of your most favorite pair of shoes. The ones that you keep the paper inserts in and have the pretty shoe box stored highest in your closet, for if your apartment were to flood they wouldn't be touched. Preserving the dignity of such shoes takes effort, thought, and care. Much like a good friendship.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Like most girls, I've had different "best" friends throughout different parts of my life. And like most relationships, they aren't as good as you thought they were at the time looking back now with clearer eyes. They all taught me something, but they most of them weren't my best. Friendships that were more frenemies, friendships that were very superficial, friendships that were based mostly off of help on math homework, and friendships that ended with a boyfriend coming between. We've all had them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Heck, I think I at one point had a best friend one summer during camp at the age of nine where the basis of the friendship was on our love of sour candy straws and the constant competitiveness of who was better at the card game speed. We spent hours during our free hour in the hot sun of the San Fernando Valley stickying our cards with green candy stained lips, grimacing at who would put their last card down first. You know, friendship. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I often laugh now thinking about the types of friendships I've had. I'll take responsibility for killing a few. Like not staying in touch when they leave the country, or being too tired and too into a Law & Order SVU marathon to attend their birthday party, or (a reason many lady friendships have ended) being completely creeped by their boyfriend's necessity to look at your lips as you speak and giggle about your lisp. Over and over. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">But I've had my fair share of crazies too. One who stopped being my friend because I started walking to school with a mutual friend, one who made up a lie about me kissing a boy behind the bungalows (when in fact it was her), and one who had me over to cut out Backstreet Boy magazine clippings every Saturday and then decided not to invite me to her Bat Mitzvah. I'm convinced she was just using me for my subscription to Teen People magazine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I still secretly wonder what happened to many of these girls who I once felt I knew so well. Girls who ended up being a bad fit for me, but perhaps that special pair of shoes for someone else. With the internet I guess there is little wondering to do, since some quick clicks will lead me to their current lives, boyfriends, careers and photographic proof of mistakes. But mostly, I've kept my distance from that level of stalker. When friendships end, it can be sad but I always try to remind myself that their was a reason that it wasn't going to work out in the end. Much like relationships, not every friendship will last forever and that's okay. The loss of a friendship has never stopped me from opening myself up to new ones. I mean, if the person is into pizza, wiener dogs and The Daily Show, we may have a recipe for everlasting friendship.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-34489246049455874142013-08-27T11:24:00.001-07:002013-08-27T11:24:28.196-07:00recent realizations<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. It might be virtually impossible to get a job on the internet. It's really all about who you know (or who you're sleeping with).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Labor Day is the last holiday that you get off from work until Thanksgiving. Say whaaaaaat?! Make it count.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. I'm already thinking about Halloween costumes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Maybe don't put your engagement all over the internet, cause if he breaks it off it is less than cute to start deleting those photos (yes, this is about someone I know).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. One of my favorite things in the world is finding new treasure items at Trader Joe's and telling all my friends about it. It's like I'm an explorer and they are the inhabitants of my new land!</span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-46232664792586627002013-08-22T10:25:00.003-07:002013-08-22T11:19:09.222-07:00Keeping up with the Kardashians and the crisis in Syria<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/00/93/fe/0093fe6d90544677a35339d943e56cdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="." border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/00/93/fe/0093fe6d90544677a35339d943e56cdf.jpg" width="425" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">I think it’s fair to say that we’re all kind of a mixed
bag. Whether it’s being a fitness freak
and loving ice cream, or being a dog person who secretly watches cat videos—no
one is ever one thing. There is often
more than meets the eye, so to speak in corny clichés. So this past week when I was called out by
one of my favorite news sources for apparently not being “newsy” enough for
them, I felt offended and really unfairly judged on the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Let me back track.
The other day I tweeted @NPRjobs to see if they had any openings in the
LA area. As a working professional with
a Print & Multimedia Journalism degree I was just doing my usual browsing
for new opportunities. And since I’m
constantly hearing all this chatter about how<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/tweeting-for-jobs-tips-for-the-twitter-job-search/16052"><span style="color: blue;">finding a job on Twitter</span></a> is more common than you
would imagine, I thought “why not me?”
Well, I soon found out why not. I
got a message my beloved iPhone that @NPRjobs had replied to me. Oh joy!
Could it be? I’m becoming one of
those stories you hear about where you tweeted a question and now magically I’m
the CEO? Could it be?! Not exactly.
@NPRjobs replied with “<span style="background: whitesmoke; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Replace diplomats with celebrities and you're in”. Now this isn’t me calling out NPR on anything. For the record, I absolutely love NPR,
specifically “All Things Considered” which I listen to everyday, despite my
boyfriend reminding me that it’s less than cool to be rolling around Los
Angeles with my windows rolled down, bumping Robert Siegel. I depend on NPR for a lot of news, current
events, awesome books to read, and to remind me that I have a lot to learn
about wind energy. <span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: whitesmoke; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But
despite my love for NPR, I was hurt.
Sure, two of my last tweets referenced Kanye West but heck he was on my
mind! The reply left me feeling very
insecure. The type of insecure when one
thinks to themselves “Ew is that how I come off?” much like when you hear your
voice on an answering machine. Immediate
cringe. But then, as I scrolled through
my Twitter feed I started to feel unfairly judged. Sure, I had tweets about Ye, Beyoncé and Kobe
Bryant. But I also talk about Egypt, the
unemployment rate in the US, civil war in Syria and global warming. Sure I partook in my guilty pleasure that is
celebrity gossip, but for the most part my tweets were either jokes (that are
really sad, hilarious things that have happened to me) or things I’ve read. You know, normal things that people put on
Twitter if Twitter isn’t their job. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: whitesmoke; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
felt very defensive. I wanted to shout
“Hey! Just take a look at my resume!
That’s not filled with any celebrity references!” I understand that your internet presence is
an extremely important part of who you are in the employment world these
days. I mean, I </span><a href="http://thatstroubling.blogspot.com/2013/06/keep-it-fluff.html"><span style="background: whitesmoke; color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">wrote about
it on my blog</span></a><span style="background: whitesmoke; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">! But why can’t a girl be
into the latest celebrity chatter AND the news of the world. Are those things mutually exclusive? Has it gotten to the point where I will be
judged if I’m carrying the Economist along with the latest People
magazine? I never thought it was a
problem for those things to coincide.
After all, we’re all human and all have guilty pleasures whether it is
gossip, Oreos, bedazzled nails or the Real Housewives. We’ve all got them, and I dare you to find
someone who doesn’t! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: whitesmoke; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
the end, I guess I can see where they were coming from. They probably didn’t read past my most recent
tweets so they based their judgment off of that. And I’m not so self-involved that I’m going
to sit here for hours and analyze why someone might think I am shallow enough
to only care about celebrity gossip. But
I do think it is worth a discussion about how just because someone talks about
or peruses the internet for stuff that may seem meaningless, a waste of time
and with little to no depth, that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to
them. This little incident made me
realize that the next time I overhear someone talking about Honey Boo Boo, I
should check myself before I pass any judgment.
Because even </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/michelle-obama-talks-guilty-pleasures-french-fries-housewives-17512586"><span style="background: whitesmoke; color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">the strongest, most
put together woman I can think of has a guilty pleasure</span></a></span><span style="background: whitesmoke; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. And I ain’t faulting her for it!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-41513377813160160452013-08-20T10:11:00.001-07:002013-08-20T10:11:11.554-07:00oh yikes<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="." src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/50/f4/58/50f45868e25dc24a3deb01008f568f1f.jpg" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career frustrations has me feeling like the photo above. Excuse my absence. Trying to get my everything together to move on UP!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-62267727505858881032013-08-01T10:35:00.002-07:002013-08-01T10:35:32.801-07:00Things I hate spending money on: Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="." height="295" src="http://breandaburch.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/proffessional-woman-1.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Not one of these smiles are genuine.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just reading the title of this series, I'm sure you're saying to yourself "um this will be never ending " because really we all have like a thousand things that we hate spending money on. But I'm going to try to focus on things that particularly suck and are particularly necessary to spend your money on as an adult. So, blabbing no further: I hate spending money on work clothes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Unlike some of you super cool, freelance, chill, young work place people, I have a "normal" job. It's not particularly exciting, for the most part it pays the bills, and I don't know much about the people around me because nothing we wear says anything about who we are. When the seasons change and I realize that it's time to change my work wardrobe I always let out a loud, very detectable groan. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Why?! Why must I spend my hard earned money, that could go towards fabulous things like manicures, gourmet pizza and even more throw pillows, on pants suits, blazers, boring "work" tops and frumpy cardigans? I still haven't figured out a way to look cute at a desk job. I constantly see these fashion bloggers posting pictures of a work outfits and every time I think "who would wear that to work?!" </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Call me grandma, but there is no way in hell I'm wearing platform heels to work. And if I even dare show up in a </span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432304576371394017983926.html" style="font-size: small;">shorts suit </a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> my boss will most definitely give me the "you know I'm sending you home" look. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">No one likes spending money on work clothes, is my ultimate point. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whether you work at a restaurant and have to buy those ugly "nonslip" shoes, or you work in retail and your employer essentially forces you to wear their $400 jeans. It's something that none of us want to do. I can't tell you how much of a better, more efficient employee I would be if I could show up to work in leggings and just look fabulous on my down time. Because honestly, this whole "work" business is already cutting into my fabulous time. How can I be expected to look effortlessly cool if I'm leaving work wearing slacks and a polka dot button down with grandma loafers? Essentially impossible. No one is going to believe the lie I tell that I am the secret fourth Kardashian sister if I"m not constantly walking around like shopping and worrying about my juice cleanse are my only problems. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All I'm saying is, we live in California and in the year 2013. So I don't believe anyone who is sitting in a suit is comfortable doing so. This i<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">sn't 1968 </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">à la a Mad Men board meeting. No one leaves work in a suit and goes on a sexy </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">rendezvous</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"> anymore (at least no one I know). Most people leave and head straight for the gym or the nearest take out. So can't we just get with the times and allow people to show up to work in their normal attire as long as it doesn't require assless chaps or bikini tops? For the sake of my pocketbook, please. </span></span></span></div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-32383189621764708612013-07-31T09:38:00.000-07:002013-07-31T09:38:17.141-07:00recent realizations<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Tea and vitamins actually work</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Working out sucks, but if you have a pretty view it sucks slightly less</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Vacations are necessary, even if they are only for a day</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Can someone tell me what the rage is about cronuts? I had one recently and it was good but it wasn't slap yourself good. I would probably just take a glazed donut given the option. </span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-53826673013410364162013-07-15T12:46:00.000-07:002013-07-15T12:46:40.981-07:00where there is injustice there is turmoil<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="." height="425" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/308465/slide_308465_2695730_free.jpg?1373891718490" width="640" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Prior to the verdict, there was a request for calm. Calm reaction to whatever the verdict may be. The verdict, of course, is of the case of George Zimmerman, the man who admittedly shot and killed a 17 year-old, unarmed boy. On Saturday evening, the verdict was not guilty. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Calm? How can people be calm? How can calm exist in a time of injustice, racism, and seeming loss of civil rights? I feel like I can go on and on about this, and I definitely have prior to and after this verdict. But instead, I will direct you to a <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/07/15/our_real_problem_is_white_rage/">piece written by Edward Wyckoff Williams</a> who is able to write something profound, impactful and eloquent that goes beyond anger and frustration. Something I am having a tough time doing right now.</span></div>
</div>
katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974705897381929826.post-38865003255958385002013-07-12T13:35:00.004-07:002013-07-12T13:39:48.639-07:00sure ways to have a lovely day<span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Drink coffee</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Have a good hair day</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Wear something that makes you feel your most confident</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Wear perfume</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Call someone you haven't talked to in a while to catch up</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Tell someone you love them</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">7. Indulge in a guilty pleasure</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8. Kiss</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Set a goal</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Do something nice for someone else</span>katiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08767302310399421135noreply@blogger.com0