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!

#bfgta

Yep, the Blogger Family went to Austin.  And it rocked.

But...this is probably the most intimidating post I've had to write.  How do you blog about a trip taken with bloggers who were all micro-blogging the entirety of the trip as it happened?  So much happened within the span of just two weeks, five days of which I was present, that I can't even begin to encapsulate it into one post.  All I can say is, it was such a bizarre yet wonderful experience.  There was one moment driving in the car, where I thought about something that was happening and how I felt about it, and my initial reaction in my mind was, "I should tell the blogger family about this."

But they were right there in the car with me.

Whoa.

It felt so natural to be hanging out with this group of people, which is saying a lot coming from someone like me, who is the queen of awkward social situations.  Nothing felt forced or expected--it was just like we were any group of friends hanging out, looking at cool shops, eating awesome food, talking about whatever.  Those were my favorite moments--just talking about whatever and soaking up each other's company in the car, over dinner, or sitting on a hill overlooking the skyline.  Such normal, simple moments made magical by the fact that these people are usually states or countries away, separated by a glowing screen.  Everything was pure blogworthy-bliss, and planned to perfection.  I feel so lucky to have somehow been adopted into this beautiful family and able to attend this summer's meet up.  Love y'all, and hope to see you again soon.

my style, then & now

then

now

Recently I started using tumblr again (as one does when finals come around), and I've realized how my style has evolved since I started it a few years ago.  I started it as a pursuit to encapsulate all that is "sweet, pastel & lovely" which eventually evolved into a place with more obsessive things like Darren Criss, Harry Potter, and Glee.  Now it's become more like my true style--colorful and classy, with a sense of humor and handmade-ness.  This is a pretty pointless post, but it's something I noticed and it makes me happy to see that my style is evolving into something I now recognize is more me.

That's all.  It's summer and I'm going to post pointless things because...

it's summer.

WHATCHA GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

Okay, bye now.

new line at shabby apple

There is a cute and classy new line at Shabby Apple called Highclere Castle.  I love its retro British vibe!  My favorite is the navy blue tulle skirt.  If you see something you like, use the code "High" for 10% off store wide.

get inspired: interview with Maggie of Marvelous Meandering

graphic by Maggie

I recently started a new series of posts about my two favorite things:  creativity and inspiration.  As a "creative" person, I am constantly searching for inspiration to fuel my creativity, and I thought it would be interesting to ask others about what they are passionate about.  This is second interview of the series.  See the first here.

As a longtime reader, I have always admired Maggie of Marvelous Meandering for her love of the written word.  On her blog, she describes herself as a "generally enthused aspiring librarian and author."  Can you get any more awesome?

I know you're a big lover of literature. How does what you're reading at the moment influence your creativity?

What I’m reading influences the mood I am in, which affects how creative I feel and what I feel like creating. If a book is really well-written and has left me with that frustrating yet wonderful “Now what?” feeling, I usually am inspired to write (though often get frustrated by the “Why do I bother?” feelings that my subconscious likes to throw at me).

Where else do you look for inspiration?

I draw the most inspiration from words—individual words, quotes, stories, lyrics, and so on. I keep a list of my favorite words and am constantly writing down quotes I read and hear that strike a chord. Even when I doodle, about eighty percent of the page is words. I feel that words are most powerful tool of creation and expression at our disposal.

I am also very inspired by well-made things. You can tell when someone didn’t put their heart into something, but half-assed it or solely did it for attention or money, and that’s always very disappointing to me. I like to see things that I can tell the maker put time, love, and meaning into. Just a few examples off the top of my head are The New York Times, Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley, and everything about the musical Rent.

When I read your blog, I am always so impressed in how well you write. Would you agree that writing is your biggest form of expression? Why?

Definitely. It’s what comes most naturally to me, and the element that I feel most comfortable in. If you couldn’t tell from above, I kind of have a love affair with words and the way you can piece them together a million different ways to make a million different meanings.

When you're feeling writer's block, what do you do to get over it?

Sometimes, you just have to walk away. Leave it alone for a while—go get a snack, call your best friend, watch an episode of Will & Grace, and go back and try again. Other times (such as when there is a deadline involved), your only choice is to push through it. Those times really suck.

What goals do you have for writing?

Simply to write more. I want to start writing more stories–fictional and not. I want to push myself so that one day I might write something that others find worth reading. I want to be a novelist.

What other creative outlets do you most utilize and why?

Photography, definitely. I am notorious among family and friends for having my camera in everyone’s face and making people (mainly Melany) pose for pictures. (What can I say? I like to document.)

I have also dabbled a bit in making videos. Nothing fancy, just funny bits from my friends and family mainly. I did make a video that highlighted some of my favorite things about Austin for a friend that is planning to move there, and enjoyed that. There is a lot more that I want to do video-wise, but I need/would like to get a better camera first.

How would you describe your personal style or aesthetic?

I am sure there is a common trend in my style, but I am not seeing it, and cannot think of an encompassing phrase to describe it. I just know what I like when I see it. I have a lot of superhero t-shirts and skinny jeans, but I also have twenty-seven dresses and three pairs of Steve Madden heels. I found a long white, pleated skirt that I love at an old lady’s estate sale one day, but hanging next to it is a leopard print, lace long-sleeved mini-dress with bows on the back. I have many pairs of shoes that I would feel okay wearing to a job interview . . . and then I have my vintage pink sequined Keds.

Check out Marvelous Meandering for more of Maggie!

get inspired: interview with Amy of Seafoam Eyes

graphic by Amy

I'm starting a new series of posts about my two favorite things:  creativity and inspiration.  As a "creative" person, I am constantly searching for inspiration to fuel my creativity, and I thought it would be interesting to ask others about what they are passionate about.  Here is the first of what I hope to be many interviews with some of my favorite bloggers about what inspires them.

Amy has a lovely blog at Seafoam Eyes.  We have been blogfriends for a few years, and last summer we met for the first time at a Harry & the Potters concert.

Where do you find the most inspiration?
I find a lot of inspiration in books, and films. Most of my inspiration in life is gathered from the pictures of the lives of characters and settings painted by authors and filmmakers. For instance, right now I'm completely enamored with Louisiana, and have been reading books set in the deep south and watching movies set there. For me, inspiration comes from immersing myself in another land. I suppose it's sort of like traveling, except I get to stay home.

How do your surroundings affect your creativity?
Greatly. I find that if I'm not in a place where I'm comfortable, or can make myself at home, inspiration and creativity come to me more difficultly. I'm most creative when I am at ease, and in an environment that is tidy and aesthetically pleasing.

How does pop culture/the internet influence you?
I couldn't say that it doesn't influence me, because of course it does, it influences everyone, but I'm definitely very selective in my tastes and what I become interested in through the internet and pop-culture. I've built a comfortable bubble that includes certain aesthetics, and I tend to let in only what I am genuinely interested in. That being said I think pop culture and the internet as a whole are brilliant tools for educating ones self, and for the act of discovery. I've discovered so many amazing things through the internet, and they've all affected my life, outlook, and personality in one way or another.

What made you start blogging and what has kept you going since?
I began blogging at sixteen. I had just had a minor foot surgery that was keeping me out of ballet for a good six months, and my mom suggested blogging as a creative outlet. All-in-all I'm quite surprised I've kept blogging all these years, and that it's progressed into something so much larger than my sixteen-year-old self could ever have imagined. I kept blogging, definitely for the amazing creative outlet, but also for the fantastic community of amazing, creative, and uniquely talented people I've met through it. Blogging just wouldn't have its appeal if I didn't have the opportunity to connect with so many other like-minded bloggers in the process.

I've been reading your blog for years. Every time I read it, I get this urge to grab a cup of tea or write a letter to a friend. Is this what you're going for?
I don't know that I'm exactly "going for" anything. My blog is like an extension of my personality, and drinking tea and writing letters is most definitely a part of who I am. If reading my blog gives people the urge to make themselves a good cup of tea and write letters then I'm very glad! Because writing letters and drinking tea is AWESOME, but I wouldn't say I'm aiming to make anyone do anything other than possibly look at life with a lovelier outlook.

What creative outlets do you most utilize & why?
Well, most definitely blogging. As I mentioned, blogging is a way for me to better express my personality, and share the things I love in a creative manner. I also greatly enjoy ballet and piano as creative outlets.

How would you describe your personal stye or aesthetic?
My personal aesthetic is really just a conglomerate of all of the things I love, and personally find aesthetically pleasing. Like English gardens, contemporary architecture, Michelle Dockery, lemon meringue pie, and mens leather shoes. Maybe none of those seem like elements of style, but they are to me. They kind of paint a larger picture. I like my personal style to reflect the larger picture of my personality and interests, without giving away too much so as to leave some interest intact.

Check out Seafoam Eyes for more of Amy!

i ♥ ichat

Ted will probably be mad that I posted this, but I think he's posted enough awful pictures of me on Facebook that it's okay.  Plus... I look pretty bad in this one too.  

But just look at him.  I miss him so much already.  Already counting down the days until he visits here!

Okay, I'm done being cutesy.  I just couldn't resist.

Posts to look forward to this week:

At least two more CA posts

A look at my bedroom (if it ever gets clean enough)

An easy DIY project for fortune cookie fortunes

Another embarrassing old journal entries vlog

....& maybe more

guess who has a blog now

TED!  You should definitely read and drool over his delicious food blog, especially because he knows all the good places in Portland and also enjoys cooking and baking!  Hopefully soon there will be a post all about the pumpkin pancakes he's making for Halloween weekend, of which I plan to eat all of.  Be excited.

guess what

My beautiful friend Kate has a beautiful new blog.  You should check it out.  She will probably hurt me for posting this, but her blog is too quality; I feel selfish not spreading the love.  Enjoy!   

for your information

Two of my loveliest friends have recently started lovely blogs (or actually started posting, in Erin's case).  They are definitely worth a visit!

Writer's Block

Good Morning, Taiwan

Happy days! xoxo

ride the lightning

My lovely friends Dahlya, Emily, Spencer, Rachel, and Rachel's sisters were happy to come along when I said Harry and the Potters were performing at the Phoenix Library this Friday.  Hooray for friends who are Harry Potter enthusiasts!  Well... Let's just say they probably wouldn't be my friends if they weren't.

As if seeing Harry and the Potters jam out to "Phoenix Tears" and "The Economics of the Wizarding World Don't Make Sense" wasn't awesome enough, I got to meet Amy from Amour et Chocolat!  We've read each other's blogs for probably the past two years, and surprisingly had never crossed paths (although we had a secret code Harry Potter quote just in case we thought we saw each other).  Although, meeting up at a Harry and the Potters concert is probably the coolest way to meet someone for the first time anyway.  Hooray for blog friends turned real life friends!

The concert was one of the most fun I've ever been to!  When you arrived, you got "sorted" by taking a pin out of a wizard hat.  I got Hufflepuff.  They also had a "Potion Bar" that they gave out beverages in different colors, but I never went over to grab one.  The Harrys (yes, they both call themselves Harry and during the concert talk as if they are Harry) were the best part.  They are so enthusiastic and you can tell how much fun they have playing these shows.  They threw confetti into the audience, taught us motions to go with the songs, screamed, yelled, and made continuous Harry Potter references that were so hilarious and fun.  The fact that this all went down in a library just makes it the best thing ever.

Of course I had to buy a t-shirt that has Hagrid on it with a shirt on that says "I <3 Hugs"... I am kind of in love with it.  The best part is that the Harrys signed it!  Joe wrote, "Believe in the power of LOVE (and magical babies)" and Paul wrote "Read with the volume on TEN!" How cool can you get?  Not much cooler in my opinion. 

What a magical event!  VOLDEMORT CAN'T STOP THE ROCK!

i just did something a little crazy, you guys

I made a video blog!  Now, I have watched vlogs for quite some time (my favorite is Girls With Glasses), but I never really considered making my own.  So when I read Katie's comment "low quality photobook vlog? even cooler!" on my recent post about my new laptop, I realized that hey, I could make one... Maybe.  Then tonight I spontaneously decided to make one just to give it ago.  It was fun!  And now I believe it when people say I laugh after everything I say...  I apologize in advance.

ten things

back when I was cool (like 7th grade?)

The always wonderful Amy challenged me to answer ten questions about myself.  Here it goes!

1.  What did you do ten years ago?
I spent my time being eight, doing eight year old things I suppose.  I loved Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the show, the cartoon, the CD-Rom) and tried to play sports with little success.  I was a girl scout!

2.  What did you do one year ago?
Oh dear, a year ago?  I was a junior, probably stressing out about AP tests and how to get a boy to notice how awesome I am.  But wait!  A year ago, I went to Portland for the first time.  How prophetic!

3.  Five snacks you like:
Fruit (especially raspberries, blackberries, and avocados), bread, roasted seaweed (from Trader Joe's), granola bars, MACARONS

4.  Five songs which you know the whole lyrics to:
I can list way more than five (more like 5,000), but the songs that have been stuck in my head recently aka that I sing to in the shower, are mostly songs by the Warblers like Misery and Raise Your Glass...  Also, I am in love with Dress & Tie by Charlene Kaye and Darren Criss.  Is This Sound Okay? by Coconut Records and Sentimental Heart by She & Him are also fun to sing.

5.  Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
I would pay for my college, pay for all my relatives and future children's college, travel, buy my parents a house, and start some kind of foundation for charity.

6.  Five bad habits:
Short term memory loss, getting distracted, going to sleep late, comparing myself to others, letting my room get messy.

7.  Five things you like to do:
Write, read, watch movies, blog, bake.

8.  Five things you would never dress in or buy?
This is tough, because I'd probably wear anything if I had the time to make it my own.  But, I do tend to shy away from tightly-fitted clothing, supershort dresses, fur (definitely real, but also faux), turtlenecks, and maxi dresses (they are taller than me).

9.  Five favorite toys:
My new iPhone, my record player, my Glee and Gossip Girl season DVDs, my Harry Potter everything, and of course my sewing machine.

10.  Five people I'd like to see take this quiz (but it's cool if you don't):
Melanie, Dahlya, Emma, Tabitha...  and Erin, because she needs something to blog about, already!  Geesh!

(500) doodles of words

THIS IS MY 500th POST!

Much has changed since December of 2007 when I wrote my first blogpost, but it's funny to see how much hasn't.  Here's a look at a few posts from my first year in the blogosphere.

That December I discovered Etsy and revived my love of tea parties.

That March I made my first of many pies.

That May I realized how cool Zooey Deschanel was. (current obsession? Try life-long.)

That June I met the love of my life.

Some things never change...

My love of Gossip Girl

My Harry Potter obsession

My lust over Ban.do (now I finally own one!)

My favorite blogger (who ironically lives in Portland)

My hobby of antiquing & movie-going

My favorite magazine & illustrator

Really bizarre...Looking through these brings me back to when I first wrote them.  It seems like just yesterday!  It honestly does.  I can literally remember writing a lot of these.  I really haven't changed much since, interest-wise.  It's weird to see my 14/15 year old self discovering the things that are all very much a part of me now. 

Thanks for sticking around.  Here's to 500 more!  xoxo

hi, i'm kaylie

(photo)

I'm 17 (almost 18).  How would I describe myself?

An old soul
stuck in a fourteen-year old's body
that acts like a fifties housewife.

I just read Emma's post about cute clothes and a clipping from Housekeeping Monthly in 1955 that she read in her English class.  I felt like I could dedicate a whole blogpost to my thoughts about it, so I jumped at the chance of a prompted post. 

To start off, the clothes are adorable.  I can tell they are from Anthro, and Anthro is roughly equivalent to Tiffany's when it comes to beating the "mean reds."  Well, Anthro, and the nearest antique store.  Breakfast at Anthro&thenearestantiquestore's... starring me, Kaylie.

Second, I have mixed feelings about the idea of the ideal wife presented in the "Good Wife's Guide."

The guidelines suggested I find very unrealistic.

I admit I do love
dresses and aprons
sewing and crafts
being a hostess
having things look nice
caring for others
baking and cooking
decorating
the idea of marriage
being ladylike
children

But there is one thing I never forget-- strong and fierce women fought for my suffrage and independence.  This doesn't mean a lot of us women don't enjoy feminine things like baking.  A lot of us do.  I know I sure do!  I also realize that being a wife and mother is enough for some women.  I personally want to have a career.  But you know what the wonderful thing is?  It's because of those women that we now have the choice to decide.

I may dress like a fifties house wife, but I am truly a feminist.  I want my relationship with my future husband to be balanced.  I want to feel intellectually and creatively equal with whoever I spend the rest of my life with.  I don't want a husband who will feel lost and helpless when I'm in England for a book signing!  I mean, come on, the man's got to know how to take care of himself.  I need an independent man.

Yes, I do want to marry a lovely gentleman and have lovely children and be lovely in general.  But before all that, I want to travel, finish college, start my career.  I want to know I can support myself before committing myself to another human being, much less a family.

I know of--and look forward to--the quirks and mishaps of being an imperfect wife, mother, and grandmother.  Because truly, that's what makes life so precious--finding someone to share your love, your laughter, and your Chinese takeout when yet another of your adventures in French cooking takes a wrong turn. 

To be truthful, these are the moments I can't wait for most.  I can't wait to make a home with someone and learn to love someone's imperfections and make 34234 mistakes while raising our well-dressed children.  I can't wait to be the mom who teaches her daughter to sew and her son to cook (because real men know how to cook). 

I know for a fact there will be days that I will not be happy to see my future husband.  And that's okay--I'm sure the feeling will probably be mutual.

thursday thrills

Thursdays are magical days.  Thursdays are the day you can say, "Tomorrow is Friday."  Thursdays are the day you can start making plans for the weekend.  Thursdays are just lovely.  Thus I bring to you "thursday thrills"  a weekly post of magical and lovely things I stumble across!

A clever blogger makes color comparisons with street style here and here.

Daydream about living on the road.

Watch this funny skit on Jimmy Kimmel about Kayne West's tweets.

Valentines Day is the cutest holiday ever.  Check out these sweet hearts day gifts.

I wouldn't put it past technology to make this happen for real.

A beautifully simple love song.

Pink, gray, and gold at its finest.

Happy Thursday!

today i am thankful for...tumblr

Just looking at my "archive" makes me smile.

hey leighton, stop making me look bad, will ya?

Dear Leighton Meester,

I have a hat just.like.this. that I wore the other day with my hair just.like.yours., so imagine how I feel when I s(tumble) upon these pictures of you.  I don't know whether to feel flattered or discouraged about my efforts in comparison... So I will let it slide.  But just this once.

Best regards,
Kaylie

(P.S.  I am officially addicted to tumblr.  It started out as a harmless no-strings-attached relationship, but when I began to feel overwhelmed about all the awesome pictures I was finding and how I could blog them all gracefully, I caved.  Welcome to my life as a Marie Wannabe!)

note to self: must find husband willing to make quirky short films with me

Postcards From Italy from ForYouLoveMe on Vimeo.

Love.

Mr. Schuster....

I'm going to miss seeing you every Tuesday night at 8.  I think I might have to buy some Glee songs on iTunes to hold me over until next season...  As my mom would say, we're Gleeks around here.

Good news:

I got to see my pals tonight (Glee finale + mint brownies = a good time)

I aquired a hand-me-down laptop from my uncle (Hooray!)

I'm working again for the summer (I nanny two hilarious girls)

Bad news:

I've kind of been in a blogging funk lately.  Also, I've been really busy (SAT, anyone?  Online class?  Work?  ACT?), so when I do have free time, I'm basically trying to take advantage of it to catch up on my reading, sewing (I finally sewed a skirt with the fabric I got in Portland!), or baking. Or I am calling Rachel up so we can watch Arrested Development...  Okay.  So I guess it's not all that bad.  At all.  But hopefully this new laptop will help me get back into the blogging routine, because I do miss it!

Next post:

I will prove that I have been following my new year resolutions (or not)