beautiful.

Barista-customer conversations are never really anything to be remembered. It's usually conversations about the weather or recent local sport scandals [new basketball coach eh?]. Needless to say, I've never had significant encounters with customers as a barista that were worth blogging about... until today.

Gosh. Today if ANY day would have been an easy one to make weather-related-small-talk. On this day we had rain, storm, sun, and hail. Within 4 hours. Welcome to Oregon i guess. So I had a conversation starter ready for the next person to walk in the door.

It was an older couple [late 40's maybe?], they were both wearing sunglasses and the woman was wearing a wicker backpack like the ones they sell at the saturday market. so e.u.g.

This was how the convo went down:

Kaitlin: "So did you guys get a chance to be outside today? IT's been pretty crazy huh?"

[medium-length [yet still awkward] pause]

Man: What do you wanna be when you grow up? What are your goals?

[surprised pause]

Kaitlin: Oh, umm... well my major is education, because I hope to be a primary teacher, and i'm minoring in spanish because I hope to support native spanish speaking students in the U.S., and maybe go overseas and teach abroad... i don't really have a plan yet i guess. I just know i wanna teach kids.

Man: Hmm... well what do you believe in?

Kaitlin: Uh....... love i guess. I believe in loving and compassion and having belief in people. I believe in salvation and forgiveness. I believe in potential, for everyone and everything.

Man: What's your hardest inner obstacle you have to face in your life?

Kaitlin: Ummm.. [this one took more thought] i guess it would be judgement. i don't think i'd call myself a judgmental person, but i would definitely say i falter and i wish i wouldn't. So.. ya.

Man: So you believe in potential for everyone, but your biggest inner battle is judgement?

Alright... so at this point i think crap, this guys good. I was pretty proud of my response though.

Kaitlin: Well, ya i guess that's the whole point in believing in something isn't it? Something that you strive to achieve every single day... I mean I could say I believe in potential and equality, but if I don't strive to be better at it every single day, would that really be me practicing my faith? [i paused for a second, to rewind in my head and actually see if that made any sense at all]

then i continued...

"I'm not naive in saying that i am what i believe. I think this is

unrealistic, and not really a way to live. I want to believe in a

bigger part of myself. I want to believe in people that might never exist.

That way, i never stop growing. I never stop searching.

I never stop believing."

Man: "You are a beautiful person, Kaitlin."

HOLY CRAP! In no more than 2 minutes, a stranger helped me realize more about myself than anyone I know. I want this for myself. Not just today. But tomorrow, and the next day, and forever.

Let's all try this.

Let's shoot for the moon.

Oh, The Adventures.

I know it’s hard for rappers to wait when they see a fleet of Bentleys glistening on the horizon, but trust me, in hip-hop patience is a virtue. When a rapper is catapulted to fame overnight, without taking the time to truly lay down a foundation, nine-times-out-of-ten they watch that success evaporate faster than Tiger Wood’s marriage [uhh paging dr. mims? j.kwon?]. So while I’m sure that B.o.B truly hoped his debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray would have dropped in 2008, as he told DJ Z ages ago, in retrospect the delay was a blessing in disguise. So now, when the fame and adulation Bobby Ray deserves finally arrives at his doorstep, and to some extent it already has, the man will be in the perfect position to make sure his name stays in the spotlight for years.

The CD has been playing on repeat everywhere i go. So far... my two faves are Fame [ill explain why later], and Airplane.. because I am in LOVE with Haley Williams and her firey red hair. She's got a voice, dang.

Although I am excited about the musical talents on this cd, I am more interested in who B.o.B. is, not who he sounds like. Just take Fame, a track that’s my favorite on the album not only because beat sticks in your head like a shotgun shell to my skull but because Bobby dodges and weaves in and out of the big band production like Sugar Ray Robinson in his prime. The same could be said of the dancehall-tinged The Kids and the starkly done Ghost in the Machine, both tracks that could only have come from the mind of one man, and that man’s name is B.o.B…or Bobby Ray. Regardless, it’s the music that matters, not the moniker, and if The Adventures of Bobby Ray is any indication, the music is some of the most exciting work we’ve heard in a very, VERY long time.

The wait is finally over. B.o.B. has arrived.

natural beauty.

"Natural beauty is really happiness
with who you are. If you like who
you are on the inside, that'll
come through on the outside."

-J. Simpson

Roadtrip

Took an "awesome" RT with the sister and mama this saturday...

We were on the hunt for a prom dress for my lil sis' senior prom. Being the wannabe fashionista/shopoholic that I am... I was extremely eager for the trip and couldn't wait to get my hands on some Jessica Mcclintock and Nicole Miller which I have missed since my high-school-dance days.

So, we get into portland our first stop is Nordstrom [of course]. And to our surprise... there was absolutely NOTHING there... After visiting about 10 other sudo-expensive clothing stores... we found the perfect little prom dress... for $15... in a second hand store...

One person's tossable treasures, could be another persons beauty personified.

Find the beauty in recycled things.

Things that have been borrowed and ruined and stained and tainted...

you might see a second layer of perfection, saved just for you :]

These are my favorite pieces from the DvF spring 2010 fashion show. Her entire collection was so boho-chic, with looks that followed the adventure of a free-spirited woman on safari. Her collection was bohemian, fluid, unconventional, and all together modern... and to think i was impressed with her fall collection. Spring blew that collection out of the WATER!

You can tell from all her pieces that Ms. von Furstenberg used inspiraton from her recent visit to Egypt [lucky duck] to create this adventuring spirit.

Gosh, DvF never ceases to amaze me. Her prints are both ethereal and romantic. I felt there were a few pieces that had some complicated and slightly unpractical layering... but many of the looks were simply elegant. [whoa]

Oh and did I mention the models?! With long flowing hair, the models looked fairylike and delicate. Sparkling, mystical eyes and lips completed their nymph like New York Fashion Week makeup.

Lively and vital.

{pretty much sums up this season of DvF}

Eavesdropper to the MAX

i forgot my book today, so what else is there to do in a coffee shop but eavesdrop on other coffee addicts conversations?

[i mean come on, we all know that coffee house convo's are the best to eavesdrop on... that's when the juiciest secrets about someone's life are revealed! People ALWAYS choose coffee outings to vent or argue or confess love... and this situation was no different]

{img. 'the road less traveled'}

Although the convo was about 6 feet away, the blonde was talking extremely loud making it easy for almost everyone in the cafe to eavesdrop on her "poor me" story... I managed to figure out that she recently broke up with her boyfriend and doesn't know how to go on... [puh-leaseee]. it's not that i don't have sympathy for people in this situation... but this girl was going toooooo far.

Now THIS is the reason for this posting, her friends response to her whining and sobbing over her long lost boyfriend [who was sort of a douche-bag from the little information i got from the convo] was absolutely AMAZING! Probably one of the best responses i've heard in a very long time.

I knew I liked her friend too, which was initially why I was choose them to spy on [other than the fact the blonde was practically yelling]... Blondie's friend was a rich brunette with a boho-chic sort of out fit on. She nailed this style to a T, and with what looked like little to no effort, which is the point all along right?

and p.s. she was drinking a caramel macchiatto... this was already enough of a reason for me to like her.

So, this is what the boho chic wearing-caramel macchiatto drinking- brunette friend responded with:

"Jane, a women without a man is like a fish without a bicycle. Do you get it?! Ya.. fish don't need bicycles!! So stop acting like Todd was your air and water! You've got the rest of your life to deal with men...enjoy your freedom!" Gosh you're an embarrassment to women..."

oh. my. GOSH! This is what a true friend says to someone like this. [or a true enemy, i guess it could go either way] I might have actually gave brunette a little 'YOU GO GIRL!' head nod after she made this comment, forgetting that I wasn't actually invited to join this conversation. I was immediately embarrassed and hid my face behind my computer.... and now.. here i am... and they're still talking... blondie lowered her voice... i think she realized that she's being a big sissy, not what i would call a feminine activist, which is the vibe that brunette gave off.

ok, i think it's time for me to leave... they keep looking over here... do they know i'm writing about them? [well i guess it'd make sense.. since i hardcore type for a few minutes and then look up at them with a big smile on my face] gosh now I'M the weird one in the coffee house...

ya, it's definitely time to go... what a great start the morning...

Thanks to the whiny-blonde-single lady & the strong-feminist-boho-brunette :)

Feels like Home

Possibly one of my favorite scenes in a movie ev.er.

Within the same moment, they realize their love for each other, and they forget about their hidden agendas [i didn't wanna spoil the plot for those who live under a rock and have never seen How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days].

This picture sums it up... gosh the way he's looking at her... like he doesn't want to look at another thing for the rest of his life.

*ahhh...*

And then! If this couldn't get any better... the song choice for this scene was absolutely perfection.

"Feels like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk.

I challenge anyone to find a movie scene I'll like better. Game on.

"Does anybody want know why we're alive?"

As i'm sippin my triple NF soy latte and workin through a 4th grade math problem that has already taken me 20 minutes, Paul Wright, "You're Beautiful" came up on my shuffle...

If you need inspiration to do something... or just a little life 'pick-me-up', listen to this song... and even pull up the lyrics so you can read them as you're aural senses are tingled...

Ok here, I did the second step for you:

the world is watching us from a distance

wanting more from their own existence

tell me how do we make a difference

for eternity does anybody want to know why we're alive

oh oh oh oh
what's the purpose of this life?
oh oh oh oh

before i die and i leave the world behind
i want to know why i'm alive

you're created for the creator to live inside
there's a hole in your soul and i know that you try
to fill it with every little thing but the very one who can heal it
and bring hope to a world that wants to know why they're alive

spirit cry for this generation (generation)
we're chasing the wind trying to embrace it
open our eyes to all the lies that we try to justify when deep down inside
all we want to find is someone that loves us all of the time and it's you

yea it's you oh oh
only you
yes it's you oh oh oh
you're beautiful came down from heaven just to save my save my soul
beautiful oh oh oh oh oh
you're so beautiful
the people of this world are praising you and they are
beautiful oh oh oh oh
you're so beautiful came down from heaven just save my save my soul
beautiful oh oh oh oh oh
now i'm beautiful

"...and how stupid are fire drills, eh? I mean, who doesn't know how to get out of a building when it's on FIREEE?! Do we really need to practice that once a month?! Ya there's a possibility we will lose a few if we don't practice, but if anything we're just thinnin the herd..."

-Professor Mike Garling

[one of my education teachers]

*This was definitely the highlight of my week.

"Cancer Sucks. Life is Good. Choose Joy."

... a quote from an Aaron Jamison, who was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer in 2008.

I came across this article when i was eating breakfast this morning at the kitchen table... usually i read InStyle... but it was MIA this morning.

The cover picture to the article was a man holding an urn, and on the urn there was a sign that read "advertisement spot for sale". Jamison has decided to sell advertising space on a pair of funeral urns, one of which will go to his wife when he dies, and one to his parents. So far, he has sold two ads — one to Terese’s Place restaurant in Springfield, and one to Cry Baby Ink tattoo parlor in the Valley River Mall. {yes, the world has apparently come down to this}

Despite the awful events destined to Jamison in his near future, he still holds an "off-beat humor" regard to his illness. He even used it as a topic for one of his comedy shows!

He chooses JOY over being depressed over his illness... over the fact he's dying... wow.

{i found this picture a few months ago. this embodies joy to me}

Imagine how our world would be different if everyone had this mind set?

all my bad moods and bad days would cease to exist, because i would be focussing on the fact that

I AM ALIVE!

Instead i choose to focus on the stress of school or the fight I had with a friend or how much happier I'd be if i had more money, blah blah blah complaint complaint complaint...

I am SO lucky. WE are so lucky. Ya maybe you have some pretty bad things in their lives, maybe you can't even think of anything that you feel lucky for. My response to you would be this: stop reminding yourself that you have cancer, remind yourself that you are alive now and you have today. Make it your best day so far.

If someone who really does have cancer can do it... us strong and healthy should be able to too.

*sigh*, thanks Aaron, i needed this reminder...

Ah i love this song! totally reminds me of waking up an a saturday morning, with the excitement of an empty to-do list for that day..

I think their album cover is a summation of my life. I feel like I'm awake allll the time. Working three jobs, going to school full-time... but i wouldn't have it any other way. In comparison to others who sleep most of their days away, I would say I'm on the luckier side of things :)

Top 3 Values

Precursor: For a FHS project this past term, I had to investigate my top 3 values that I cherish in my life... This took a lot of thought, but I ended up choosing the following [in no order]: Integrity. Equality. Service.

INTEGRITY [an excerpt from my paper]

For me, integrity has to do with perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcome. Integrity means you stick to your personal code of conduct. You stick to what you decide is right and wrong. When you live with integrity, you succeed. You are open and honest. Your life is uncomplicated and less stressful. When you have good integrity you have no reason to lie. You can look at yourself in the mirror. You have nothing to hide. This is what integrity has meant to me in my life.

P.S. I have an amazing Dad. He's probably one of the coolest people I know, because he chooses random times to be all deep and say exactly when I need to hear them. He's an undercover psychologist I think sometimes...

He said this to me when I decided to become a leader at my church's youth group:

“You will never know who’s looking up to you,

it could be a silent follower who admires from afar.

This happens a lot within youth groups. You just might be

someone’s hero without knowing it. This is why it’s so important

to be who you are and to act how you know you should act 100%

of the time; because when an admirer sees their hero falter in

life, they will lose hope, and may falter themselves.

Be that strong rock, Kaitlin. Be the constant in someone’s life.”

I have dedicated my life to being that constant, not for the view of others, but for my own integrity and myself.

I will be a constant in someone's life.

[i'll blog about the other two values later.. since I haven't finished them yet :P]

"People come into your life stay awhile

then push you to the side.

But the more you live the more you see

people hurt when they don't know what they need."

-Anna Gilbert "Stand on Me"

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

{img. Kari Rae Swiridoff, 2010}

"And tulips, children love to stretch

Their fingers down, to feel in each

Its beauty's sweet nearer."

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning,

"A Flower in a Letter"

Such an understated amount of beauty can be found in an orchard of tulips. The immense array of colors are enough to change someone's day and enlighten someone's heart.

Thank you, God, for such blessings...

soulmates, literally.

Aristophanes in Plato's Symposium is that humans originally consisted of four arms, four legs, and a single head made of two faces, but Zeus feared their power and split them all in half, condemning them to spend their lives searching for the other half to complete them.

"Bada-Bing! Bada-Boom!" Thus the Creation of Soulmates!

Some argue that souls are literally made and/or fated to be the mates of each other, or to play certain other important roles in each other's lives.

According to Theosophy, God created androgynous souls, equally male and female. Later theories postulate that the souls split into separate genders, perhaps because they incurred karma while playing around on the Earth, or "separation from God". Over a number of reincarnations, each half seeks the other. When all karmic debt is purged, the two will fuse back together and return to the ultimate.

Wellll although I believe something different, mythology interests me. And i dont think thats a crime... NOT believing soulmates at all would be a crime in my opinion.

Stop being so cynical. There IS such thing as soul mates... I'll fight that fact til the end.

"Thick Skinned"

This video captures true elegance. I love the cinematography and the 'old time' film reel.

one word: breathtaking.

"steady yourself my dear. Stand On Me."

Big Fan of Anna Gilbert, amazing artist... and girls got steez.

"people always leave"... a catchphrase compliments of Peyton Sawyer from One Tree Hill {the cheesiest show on television/my favorite

show on television}. I think this video captures that essence... people will always leave; not because they wanted to hurt you, not because your

not worth it. It just happens. People just leave. And beyond that, there is always the possibilty that they will not be there when you need them to be.

Stand on the one who will always be there...

"Hello World...

... this is me. Life should be fun for everyone. "

This song plays in my head sometimes. It's from my childhood; artist being The Saddle Club (ya, no one else has heard of them either).

Funny how amateur lyrics can be exactly what you need to hear....

Life should be fun. Stop stressing out. Stop being insecure. Stop having doubt in yourself or in others. Stop holding grudges. Forgive. Rebuild. Love.

Have FAITH in your future. Be proud of your past.

Easier said than done? I tell myself that all the time. I'm trying to believe in myself more... if others can have a fun/stress-free/successful life... so can I. And so can you...

Start of Something...

This is my first blog.

I had never really thought of doing a blog before. The whole concept was quite foreign to me. I didn't even know it was something that people did, just those who had too much free time and lived with 4 cats named after characters from the "Brady Bunch".

But I stumbled upon a distant friend's blog, and became completely entranced in the inspiring and hilarious moments of her life that she broadcasted. I felt like I knew her, and I found myself revisiting her website more and more...

Then I thought "Heck! I could do this!" So I did.

I might not be as fashion savvy or as philosophical as many other bloggers are. But I would like to believe that my life is worth seeing too, maybe even laughed at once in a while. I would like to believe that I am worth listening too, and that I have enticing thoughts; maybe ones that could one day provoke another to create their own love story to their life, just as my blogging admirer did for me.

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.”