New Year, new you?

I really really loved you 2011. It wasn’t an easy breezy year of life by any means; but you taught me a lot about myself and I thank you for that. I made a couple of small changes in my daily life that have brought me to a new level of appreciation for everything around me. Visualizing my goals has pretty much always helped me attain them. So as the New Year is here and resolution time approaches- I have made 3 lists- the first of things I want to maintain, a list of things I want to implement, and list of things I want to change.

The question you have to ask yourself is “do you really want a ‘new you’ this new year?”…or do you want to keep doing what you’re doing. Most of us can always find areas to improve upon, which is how we grow mentally; but dramatic changes don’t necessarily need to be made. Subtle changes can make a huge impact on your perspective. Here’s a sampling of my lists for 2012.

What I want to maintain:
Jazzercising like it’s my job.
Taking mindful walks during work breaks.
Dancing: in my car, in my bathroom, in the studio.

What I want to implement:
Making hot tea after dinner.
Meditating
YOGA! (at home)

What I want to change:
My attitude towards cooking. I want to learn to enjoy what I am creating.
Frequency of phone calls to grandparents. Need to talk to them more.
Using internet as cure to boredom. Pick up a book!

Send me yours and I’ll share (if you want, that is).
Hope you all have a very SAFE and fabulous New Years Eve.

All I want for Christmas…

Is to see these little faces (my cousins). They’re growing up so quickly. man I sound old. Sophie, Isabelle, and college friends- you will be missed.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Tiffany’s blue.

Love the color.

Found this precious little belt at forever 21.



Couldn’t find a nail polish in this brilliant shade.



So I mixed these and made one.

I wonder what other colors I can mix? hmmm…more to come hopefully.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Craft & Bake sale.

As part of the employee appreciation committee at work (think-party planning committee from The Office), I organized a craft & bake sale today. It’s going SO well.

I brought my featherbands, of course.



My friend Maria has AMAZING knitting skills- her email is mantosfer85@gmail.com if you would like a custom made design.



Really cute wreaths made by Jennifer!



Cake DOTs by Rhett! YUM.



Pumpkin and cranberry nut bread by Carly. Delicious.

Loving this...

My iPhone has its own wardrobe based on how I’m feeling that particular day.
Classy, sassy and whimsy.



My new purse from Forever 21. This is PERFECTION to me.
Love over the shoulder straps and the colors go with 90% of my wardrobe.



My cereal “to go” container. I could live off cereal and now I just might.



Hope everyone has a wonderful time during the holidays.

I’ll be in the Carolinas spending as much time as possibly with family and high school friends.

Feathers feathers everywhere

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KatBeckDesigns
Four days to order! Thank you SO much to my friends who have kept me busy the past week creating new headbands for your Christmas presents. It inspired me to design these newbies (they won't be on etsy until next year so you can claim them now and I'll reserve it for you to purchase now).

My week with Marilyn.

My love of Marilyn Monroe started in high school and it continues to this day. Somewhat cliché…sure, but I can’t help myself. I have her plastered all over my cubicle and apartment. My favorite Halloween costume ever (and that’s saying a lot since I love dressing up) was probably Marilyn.



Casey Cline gave me this AMAZING book, Fragments, for my birthday last year. It’s all her personal notes, to do lists, and diary entries she wrote in her short life. She was a very sad person and very different person behind closed doors yet her public persona is so intriguing…



Sunday I went to see Michelle Williams star in My Week With Marilyn. She did an incredible job. The movie is SO well made. I highly recommend this flick to anyone who is a lover of classic movies or Ms. Monroe.

Featherbands CUSTOM orders for Christmas.

Hey friends. If you would like a custom made headband by Christmas, please place your order by the 16th of December. There are numerous headbands available and ready to ship on my etsy site as well. The site will be down after the 18th since I will be home for Christmas.

These make for great, unique and from the heart Christmas gifts as well as the PERFECT accessory for New Years Eve dresses.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KatBeckDesigns

Peace&love,
KatBeckDesigns

the joy formidable.

ummm yall. this band quickly just became a favorite.

How the Edge Stole Xmas. 

The Joy Formidable lead singer comes out in this adorable vintage red dress with a gigantic white collar and black tights; pretty girly looking. Then she straps on her guitar and absolutely ROCKS the stage like i haven't seen in a while (and i frequent concerts a good bit).Check em out.

PS- Denton friends; doesnt she look/dress very similarly to Courtney? I think we found her British twin.

Its beginning to sound a lot like Christmas...

I’ve never been one to turn it to the ALL Christmas radio station after Thanksgiving. However- since I have Rhapsody, which makes me feel as if all this music I download is free (just $15 a month for 3 devices)…I’ve been rocking out to some Christmas tunes like it’s my job.



Oh Zooey. My ultimate girl crush.



The Lady OF COURSE. See the thanksgiving special? So classy awesome. (her song Christmas Tree isn’t on this but you should definitely download it –warning- its naughty.)



Don’t judge me on the Bieber- it’s nice to have a little hip hop in there.



Oh Mr. Buble, you are SO sexy. That is all.

15 ways to improve your health.

Click here for a great article from Livestrong.

Guest post from Ms. Beasley: use your right to choose.

In wake of the “occupy” movement and with the 2012 elections coming up fast, I felt compelled to reach out and encourage my fellow Americans in Generation Y to get involved. The goal is not to impose my political views on anyone, but just to persuade everyone to at least have political views. Our generation has earned itself a bad reputation for feeling entitled. There is a severe lack of appreciation for what our government has done over the last 250 or so years that has given us the ability to live the way we do. Many of you who read this article are women.

Thousands and thousands of women fought for over 100 years in the U.S. to give us the right to vote. It was not until the 19th amendment was ratified by the states in 1920 that federal law banned gender-based restrictions on voting. This means that some of our great-grandmothers were arrested during the suffragette movement for the simple fact that they wanted to be able to participate in the election of our leaders. It wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that literacy tests and other tactics to keep African American’s and other races out of the voting booths were banned. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in the Middle East and Africa just in the past couple of years to be able to have rights that we take for granted, especially the right to choose the leaders or their country.

Now, I know that government and politics in general has been catching a lot of flack lately. In my opinion this is because the government has lost respect for the opinions of the American people and has had Corporations pushing their ideas while Americans just sit back and assume everything will be taken care of. Recent years have made it clear that we can no longer sit back and let Corporations choose the laws in this country.

I recommend make a list of your “non-negotiables” when it comes to government; whether it be lower taxes, better funding for education, better benefits for our veterans, entitlement reform, abortion, whatever. Take this list and do some research on the different candidates, not just for president, but also for seats in the house and senate. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to choosing our next leader. I went to my second political rally of this election year for a presidential candidate Friday night. It was a candidate who lacks almost all of my “non-negotiables”, but as they always say keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I think it is important to know where all candidates stand and to keep an open mind. If we do not hold our elected officials to a higher standard then how can we expect the governing of this country to improve? Please take a few moments out of your privileged life that others have fought for and become informed!

Also, I would like to recommend the use of multiple media sources for research because as we know none of them are “fair and balanced”. I am not going to tell you who to vote for.
All I am asking you to do is show some respect to our ancestors who fought for our freedom and the right to choose.

Megan Beasley

How to hide dark circles.

I have been doing some SERIOUS research on eye creams. What I’ve learned is that there is a difference between dark circles under the eyes, puffiness under the eyes, and under eye bags. All annoying- but different apparently.

First- we must face the facts ladies (and gentlemen), under eye issues are just as hereditary as your eye color.

Next- identify your issue [mine is puffiness: this post is dedicated to the dark circles (bags and puffiness coming later- after I DEFEAT them)].

Finally- start the battle:



Decrease them:
The best product I’ve found (and has HUNDREDS of great reviews) is Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum. Pricey for a drug store product (around $18). But it is worthy. This tiny bottle provides hydration as well as working on making your dark circles disappear. It has small light reflecting particles which help disguise the darkness under your eyes. With time it shows results. It also helps prevent wrinkles from forming; as well as filling in the ones you have so they don’t look as dramatic. Unfortunately- I have not found it beneficial in curing puffiness. I apply at night and in morning on the outer corners of my eyes and right below lower eye lid. Goes on smoothly and works well under makeup. (some reviewers use around lip area to prevent wrinkles there as well).



Hide them:
A YELLOW TINTED concealer should be your best friend. The color will blend in after applying foundation or powder. DON’T MAKE YOURSELF into a raccoon though. Use an applicator brush (ELF has great ones, all for $1) to blend out from your eye. I prefer Physician’s Formula brand.

Helpful hints:
SPF under your eyes (use it on your entire face for reals though)- the sun will make them worse.
Allergies are the cause of dark circles in many cases- so get on your meds.
Iron deficiency/anemia can cause the darkness- take some supplements.
Dehydration- I’m telling you, 8 glasses a day will change your world.
Sodium intake- too much could make them worse. Chill out on the salt.
Vitamin K and C topical creams have been proven to help with blood circulation in the eye area (which is essentially what that darkness is- bruising under the skin)

i need an excuse to wear this dress.

i die dresses.
simply no reason to buy them though. 
so i'll just pretend. 

 dinner and a rock show please and thanks.
[urban outfitters]

Black and White pleated maxi dress-we should probably be going to the ballet and then to a swanky lounge together.
and little yellow dress- ill wear you to brunch the next day.
[urban outfitters]

 dinner on a boat.
[modcloth.com]

 best dressed at the christmas party.
[modcloth.com]

 

art gallery opening. 

[lulus.com]

let's go dancing.

[lulus.com]

Written by Casey Cline

http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/9184/deathbed. Watch it. My BFF is so awesome.

Today was terrific.

Sold our xbox kinect which we unfortunately never use for some ca$h moneeey.


Got to go on a "field trip" to meet a client @ work. Very rare and was very awesome. Got to go home after sooo I had some spare hours to myself...

Went to mall. Spent exactly the amount of ca$h money I got from the kinect at Ross on these awesome finds:


Got a massage at the mall. Don't hate. Seriously try it.

Attended my 100th jazzercise class of 2011.



Annnd ended the day with $2 margaritas. Yay.


Days like today make me realize we gotta appreciate mundane days to enjoy the simple things that make days like i had today special.

Gah that was sappy.

this weekend according to what i drank.

totally didn't realize i was documenting this weekends activities on my iphone. i just like taking pics of delicious substances annnnd i'm currently obsessed with the adobe photoshop express app (thanks megs).

Cupcake Red Velvet Wine = i've gotta new favorite. paired perfectly with my homemade spaghetti.

Thanks hunny for forcing me to try this protein drink. good for you and motivation to get my PUMP on.

Blue Moon garnished with an orange. you never get old.

ohhh  nonfat nowhip pumpkin spice.  you make me excited to be  productive and i thank you for that.