a jolly 'oliday

'Tis the season for egg nog and peppermint bark, I know, I know. It's obvious that I'm just as excited about it as the North Pole Elves, but I realized recently that my Halloween got lost somewhere in all of the hustle and bustle of my birthday festivities and I never shared it. Gasp! 

Anyhoo, I'd hate to finish off the year without sharing one of the best nights OF my year!

I actually got to live out a lifelong dream of being Mary Poppins and my cute honey was such a good sport, not to mention my BEST accessory as Burt, the chimney sweep (close second would have to be my authentic Mary Poppins parrot umbrella. Wowza, I know).

It's not too early to begin dreaming up next years creative ensemble!


Cheerio!

Mama Bear

Dear Mom,
I was hoping that by now I would've diligently kept up with my Thirty Days and Thirty Thanks posts, but sadly, I am a procrastinator and I've fallen behind (no, I know, I did NOT inherit such a trait from you).
Here's the thing...
I'm really really thankful for so many things. I'm truly thankful for all that I have, and even things I don't have but maybe dream of having. You taught me to be that way. A thankful dreamer.
In fact, you've taught me the most about gratitude, which is why I wanted to save you for last.
You're a strong mama, Mama (hehe). No but really. You have been a constant light in my life, always there to teach me, through your example, to embrace all that I have and "create my own happiness". Even in your darkest hours, you never cursed the heavens for what you didn't have, you've always turned to them to strengthen you and remind you of the blessings that you do have.
You are my greatest example of achievement and have shown me that through hard work and dedication, you CAN have the good things in life that you want, while still remaining a person who lovingly gives and gives.


I'm so thankful for you.
I'm thankful that you've always taught me the importance of gratitude and the words, "Thank you".
I'm thankful that you're thankful for your 'smile wrinkles' (which I promise, no one notices, it's just that you always talk about how you like them). It's nice to have a mama who's always smiling.
I'm thankful that you showed me how to dream. Dream books/boards are still my fave.
I'm thankful for the memories we've made 'giving back'. I really think it feels best to be on the 'giving' side of things... not that the 'receiving' side is too bad either.
I'm thankful for your strength. Strength to overcome, strength to move forward, strength to stay positive and strength to believe... the list could go on and on.
I'm just really so thankful for you. Not to mention, you're the one who gave me life. I'm pretty thankful for that too.


I love you, Mom. You continue to amaze me each day just by being you. Thanks for that.


Forever Yours,
Kaitlyn Marie

coming out of my closet

I should be embarrassed, but I'm not. I came straight home from Thanksgiving dinner last week and cuddled up in my very favorite Christmas sweater because it IS that time of year, ya know? And obviously, I was way excited about it.

Judge away. I bet you don't own a sweater as warm and fuzzy as this one.

Besides, this bad boy's won me an award or two, so if anyone knows of any Ugly (or in my case, Lovely) Christmas Sweater parties this season, gimme a ring.

sunday stroll

As beautiful as Fall is, it's kind of pesky too. The trees in front of my apartment have shed their leaves a dozen times it seems. I feel like there is ALWAYS someone out there blowing them and raking them up, blowing them and raking them up. I shouldn't really be complaining though. It's not like I'm the one out there blowin' and rakin'. I'm pretty sure whoever is out there is relieved though because the last of the leaves have finally been stuffed into the last of those big orange 'leaf' bags (hopefully).


To top off a great holiday weekend, Mama, Shelbs and I wandered up City Creek Canyon today in search of some beauty to be found in the fallen leaves and naked trees. We found plenty of beauty and the blue sky and bright sun helped a little too.


Happy Sunday,
Kait

friday night lights

I am so totally slacking on my, Thirty Days and Thirty Thanks, and it's not because I have a shortage of things I'm thankful for, it's just that I'm a slacker. Working on that.


This weekend was one of those weekends you can't help but feel so lucky to have had. Beginning with the obvious, Thanksgiving Day, the weekend opened with the year's feast of all feasts. There's really not much better than that.
And then came Friday night which was just so bright. And so awesome.

Some of the cousins and their cute families came over for hot cocoa, apple cider and vegan-unfriendly goodies (it's the holidays, gimme a break).

As if we hadn't gorged ourselves enough on Thursday, we continued to stuff our stomachs full of rice krispy ornaments, cookies and brownies, then we took our hot cocoa to-go and bundled up for the trek across the street to admire Temple Square's Christmas lights. I've been watching them string these bad boys since August. That's a long time to be up on a ladder, but obviously so worth it.

As usual, Temple Square put together a magical display, but as far as brightness goes, I'd say our smiles had those lights beat. Haha, I'm such a cheeseball. 

Yes, I seriously left the house still wearing my house slippers. Gasp.
Hehehe...

Let the festivities begin!

Happy Holidays,

Kaits

i heart snuggle sundays

ON THE TWENTIETH DAY OF NOVEMBER
Some people go to church, some people go on drives and some people cook up pot roast and potatoes on Sunday.
We snuggle.
We've been snugglin' all weekend though. It's been very low-key. I like it that way and so does he. Figures.
Hope you got some good snugglin' in this weekend too.


xo,
Kait

the best, or worst thing to ever happen to me...

Moabland

I love Utah. Love it. Like really, really, love it.

Honey, myself and some bff's spent this weekend in Moab, Utah. We planned to have an awesome weekend, but awesome doesn't even begin to describe how it really was. We spent an entire Saturday lounging on rocks at Arches National Park and giving thanks to Mother Earth for the incredible beauty we were surrounded by. Seriously, man makes some pretty amazing architectural structures, but nothing compares to the structures created by nature. It was so nice to be reminded of the beautiful place I live in and to reconnect with myself in a way that the big city (that I also love) doesn't often allow.

Lens overload....

BTW, anyone who hates on planking, has obviously never tried it. Ha.

To finish off our grand weekend adventure, we rafted down the Colorado River. As if the weekend couldn't get better, I belted out tunes such as, Just Around the Riverbend, and Colors of the Wind, while I paddled to my heart's content and enjoyed the beauty that surrounded us.

Weekends like this make returning home to real life so difficult, but they also make planning the next adventure so exciting!

Happily, 

Kait

Happy Birthday, Mama!

We celebrated Mama's 53rd (I mean, 23rd) birthday this week. Oh, how they grow up so quickly!

I love my Mom. Words can't express how wonderful she is. I'm one lucky girl to have her as my own.

And she's one lucky Mom because I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning baking these bad boys just for her...

Nutella cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese, almond buttercream and nutella cream cheese frostings.

I know, right?!? 

We spent the day scoping out the finest local garage sales and I must say, I should've become a frequent "garage saler" long ago. Then we spent the evening together as a family barbecuing and hanging out. Mom loves being with her kids and we love being with her. How freaking cute is she?!

Happy Birthday, Mama!!

Always,

Kaitlyn Marie

Flash Mob Fourth!

That's right. I participated in my very first FLASH MOB! What a way to celebrate my freedom!

My very talented cousins flew into Salt Lake City to dance in a flash mob at the Fourth of July Bula Festival at Liberty Park. Having added a flash mob to my life list recently, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to wow a crowd with my "dancing skills". We literally RACED back from Oakley to make it in time, and by raced, I mean we yelled at poor Ryan Conradi to "Go faster!" the entire ride home, even after the car overheated and we required help from a generous farmer.

We made it though, just in time to make Beyonce, and ourselves, shine!

I'm now suffering from a serious case of flash mob fever and have a constant urge to break out into choreographed dance everywhere I go. Watch out Salt Lake City! These dancin' feet are on a roll!

Feel free to practice yourself!

Dancin' my life away,

Kaites