halloween in my room/my room in general

I couldn't help but add a little holiday spirit to my already chaotic and tiny wooden room.  It wasn't hard to add a little pizzazz after receiving Halloween packages in the mail from Amy and my grandparents!  (Some festive tea from my aunt was also crucial to harnessing my holiday spirit.)

PS-My room is weird and narrow, which makes it difficult to take pictures that have much in them, so I apologize for the massive post.

MY ROOM IS TINY AND WEIRD AND FREEZING COLD...

But it's colorful and mine.

sunset by the sea

What is there to say other than...

The water is so lovely.

I'm lucky to have a Ted.

Lincoln City is a sweet little place.

The more I see of Oregon, the more I love it.

Vacations are good for the soul.

//photos mostly by Ted

eat here: beach dog cafe

Over Fall break, Ted and I escaped to the coast for our anniversary--Lincoln City, Oregon specifically.  This was one of the best decisions I've ever made.  This school semester has been so overwhelming (and continues to be so--right now I'm writing an essay that is due on Monday and it's totally stressing me out, amongst 23213 other things due during the week, so obviously I turned to blogging about happy things).  This Fall break was much needed and the perfect way to celebrate two years of brunch with one of my favorite people ever.

The Beach Dog Cafe was a Kaylie dream come true.  Delicious brunch place with pictures of dogs everywhere?  YES PLEASE.  If only this place was closer to Portland...  I will definitely make an excuse to go back!  We had the Beach Dog Potatoes (house potatoes mixed w/ Polish Sausage, grilled onions, and topped w/ cheddar cheese, served with toast and eggs---we asked for poached) and Kristina's Specialty Stuffed French Toast (stuffed with a light homemade citrus cream cheese and sliced bananas, and then grilled golden. Dusted with powdered sugar and topped with a mixed berry compote and whip cream).  I loved both so much, but my favorite was probably the potatoes, because I tend to favor savory over sweet for brunch.  I love that Ted and I split meals so I can try both sweet and savory dishes!  We make a good team, indeed. I guess I'll keep him around a little longer, just for that.

//photos mostly by Ted

october 8th

Two years ago on October 8th, Ted and I went on our first date.  I wore this skirt, so being Kaylie, naturally I had to wear it on our anniversary.  So much has happened since then... We're juniors now.  We're going to London in the spring.  Not to mention my hair has tripled in length. I am so lucky I met Ted when I did (about a month or so into freshman year) because college certainly would not be the same without him.  It certainly would not include as many musicals (we spontaneously saw Anything Goes the other day.  Life with Ted, man.  Anything goes, indeed) or as much happiness. 

To celebrate our anniversary, we went to the coast this weekend.  Thankfully Fall Break fell conveniently this Wednesday night (Ted's birthday) through Sunday, so we were able to enjoy Ted's birthday and our anniversary at a leisurely pace.  I have so much to post about the coast--it was so beautiful and a much-needed escape from school and reality.  It was the perfect way to celebrate the last two years together.  It restored my energy and soul to be near the water with one of my best friends.

Top/Anthropologie, Skirt/Urban Outfitters, Cardigan/handmedown, Barrette/Anthropologie, Scarf/Anthropologie, Necklace (worn as bracelet)/Kate Spade, Belt/thrifted, Tights/H&M, Shoes/Minnetonka, Photos/Ted

it's pumpkin time

On October 1st, I woke up and thought, "Today is the first day of October!" and the song "We Need a Little Christmas" immediately popped into my head as I got dressed in this outfit.  It stayed there all day, despite my full-on Autumnal outfit.  Christmas obsession aside, I like to give every holiday its time to shine (which is why I swear off Christmas music and decor until midnight strikes after Thanksgiving).  Right now, pumpkins get my full attention.

Literally.  I could stare at tiny pumpkins all day and be pretty okay with that.  What is about them that are so sweet and cheerful?

Portland isn't taking Fall lightly this year.  When it's not constant downpour, it's freezing.  The Burrow isn't insulated very well, either.  I've been spending my nights doing homework under layers of blankets in my puffy North Face jacket and fuzzy socks.  Fuzzy socks are crucial.  I do love the rain though.  It's a reason to get cozy, drink tea, and wear bright tights.  Also: baking.  Ted and I made Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins last Saturday night while listening to Michael Buble, and let me just say--this is a good use of a Saturday night.  We brought them to our London meeting the next morning and they were a hit!  This is why you buy your boyfriend baking recipe books for holidays, guys.

Dress/Francesca's, Cardigan/Anthropologie, Boots/Nordstrom, Barrette/Anthropologie, Necklace/Kate Spade, Belt/Thrifted, Ring/Edina Kiss, Tights/Target, Photos/Ted

blog announcement

For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in clothes.  I feel like I experimented a lot with my style growing up.  I remember getting a lot of "I never would be able to pull that off!" comments throughout junior high and high school.  I never thought my style was reaaaaally out there, but I suppose my outfits were eccentric enough to stand out as not being the typical go-to options for the average girl.  I've never, ever been a "t-shirt and jeans" kind of girl.  I tend to mix patterns and go for sometimes odd brightly colored pallets.  I like hats, and rarely wear pants.  In junior high, I was frequently mistaken for being on a girls sports team because they were asked to dress up on game days.  I'd reply laughing, "Nope, I just like dresses!"  Now dresses seem to be the norm, but back then, not so much, at least where I was.

I remember the moment in junior high when the world came crashing down on me--I finally made the startling connection in my mind that I wasn't the only one in the world who was interested in the past--other people liked vintage stuff too!  I had 50's birthday party in 5th grade, and starting antiquing in 6th grade (after a trip to the antique store with my grandma to find pieces for my Alice Paul getup--for a school project--sparked my interest).  I can even trace some of my style tendencies back to my childhood obsessions with Nancy Drew and my much loved American Girl dolls.

Despite my long love affair with fashion, I'm not the typical enthusiast.  My wardrobe consists mostly of things I've had for years, my mom's hand-me-downs, and holiday dresses (the best kind) I got while shopping with my stylish grandma.  Rarely do I add something new to my wardrobe, because a) I can't afford to sustain a shopping habit, b) Despite my love of fashion, I like classic shapes, and have no interest in keeping up with the latest trends, c) I have plenty of clothes already, so a dress here or there is all I can justify/store anyways.

One of the reasons I am attracted to costume design is the idea that everyone has a personal style that says something about them, whether intentional or not. I can appreciate so many different fashion sensibilities, while never desiring to don a similar get-up.  However, there are some styles that I find very appealing and wish I could pull off, but that are regrettably not "me."

A part of me desires to be as clean and simple as Audrey Hepburn, but in reality, most days I'm more of a Frizzle than a Hepburn.  Sure, I like clean lines and ballet flats, but I also like wearing polka dots, fruit-covered cardigans, brightly colored tights, and appreciate a well-planned themed outfit paired with my wild curly hair that I never comb. Not to mention there is nothing I love more than dressing in holiday-inspired outfits.  I'd like to think at my best, my Frizzle-like tendencies can transcend to be tastefully tongue-in-cheek, like my favorite brand, Kate Spade.  At my worst, I am a walking Christmas tree or Valentine, a themed outfit turned too literal (like when I wore an actual giant present bow in my hair--but that was pretty awesome, I must say).  But even then, I'm 100% Kaylie.

On that note, I want to announce that I am going to begin posting outfits regularly.  I've been wanting to do this for a LONG time, but have never had the courage to do it (there have been many instances that Ted and I will go out with the intention to take outfit pictures and in short, I chicken out).  Admittedly, I still have some courage to muster up, but I think that ultimately it will be good for my creativity and confidence to document something that brings me such joy.  Stay tuned for some crazy colorful and/or themed outfits!