this past year

Today is July 4th, and I have plenty to be thankful for.  The facts that we live in this country and have the blessings that we have are incredible to me and so very humbling.  I am so appreciative of the sacrifices that have been made, by the men and women that serve our country, and most of all, by Jesus.

So with that, I'd like to share some things that have brought me joy this past year {since I was a blog slacker and didn't post a thing from June 2011 - June 2012}:

Completed my Masters Degree!

Enjoyed a weekend with the fam for graduation celebration festivities :)

Celebrated graduation with dessert and sweet Atlanta friends {who I cannot explain how thankful I am for},

Chelsie {she came to surprise me at my graduation, love her!}, brother and husband.

Stood beside two beautiful ladies in their weddings {so honored}

Spent my first Christmas back at home with husband and pup.

Passed my Preliminary Exam!!

{after 3 months of crazy studying and zero life}

Started back to school as a Ph.D. student - NUTS!

Celebrated my brother graduating with his Electrical Engineering Degree {This brilliant kid also just got a job! I'm so sad he's moving, but I'm thrilled for his opportunities and future experiences.}

{Best of all} reunited with this handsome guy.

So much more has happened in the past year that I unfortunately failed to capture in pictures. Not only have I been reunited with my husband, but also my amazing family, my dear friends, and my church family.  Jared is also back to school and doing so well {proud wife!}.  Work is incredible and I am loving it.  And being home is really just so wonderful. 

Life isn't perfect of course {let's be real}.  We are insanely busy with school, work, church, family, etc., and we have our rough days.  We are constantly exhausted and find ourselves neglecting friendships that we need in our lives.  But we are taking steps to find more energy and TIME {more on that another day}, so we foresee less days of exhaustion and more fun things ahead :) 

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th!

Until next time... :)

well hello again

It has been quite a while, hasn't it? I've been wanting to get back to blogging but just haven't had the chance, so I thought I'd re-kick things off with a bang on this lovely evening. I didn't think I could pull off bright colors without perfectly tanned skin, but I've recently embraced the bold colors of the summer season and I'm pretty thrilled about it. Today, I was feeling pretty colorful at work and thought I'd share :)

Tank, Cardigan, Pants, & Sunglasses - LOFT, Necklace - Fossil, Watch - ToyWatch, Shoes - Nine West

I'll be back soon to catch up on all of the new and exciting things that have happened in the past year.

Until then... :)

-Photos via the husband

dear 16-year-old me

A dear friend of mine shared this video with me after my last post. It is so very powerful, and I encourage everyone to watch it and share it with others. 

Dear 16-year-old Kaitlin (me),
I understand that being tan is pressed as being the most beautiful option for skin tones, and it is indeed beautiful. But you, sadly, do not have a complexion that will agree with the choice to forcefully make it darker. When you are 23, just two weeks after getting married, you will find out that you have basil cell skin cancer on your face. No, it isn't life threatening, but a surgeon will remove a quarter sized piece of your face just under your nose and you will have a scar from your nose to your lip. You will have a solid year of insecurities before you accept that being white is beautiful. You will also constantly fear that you will get it again and that it will be much worse the next time. So accept your fair complexion now, recognize that God made you beautiful in your own way, and protect it.
Sincerely,
24-year-old Kaitlin

embrace the white

Well, it's that time of year again. Gorgeous, bright sunny days meant to give every Florida girl perfectly tanned skin. And let me just tell you, I have that complexion. The one where you can go out in a tiny bikini for every peak sun hour every spare afternoon you get with some sort of tanning accelerator on and never get burned. Yes, I'm that lucky girl that never burns...

But it turns out I was doing some serious damage to my skin. Last summer, I had skin cancer removed from my face (here). It wasn't anything life threatening, but who wants part of their face removed? So needless to say, it was scary...

And then I stopped tanning...

And now I'm that Florida girl that burns if she's out in the sun for even half an hour. I'm that super white girl with SPF 70 on to take her dog for a five minute walk. And let me just tell you, I'm embracing it.

It hasn't been an easy task. All of my clothes are bright colors that go very well with sun-kissed skin, so that has been an adjustment. I also dyed my hair blond for what seems like forever, and although many can pull it off with fair skin, I sadly, cannot. I also still get envious at times of those with bronzed skin. But I've slowly made adjustments, and now find myself paying more attention to celebrities with fair complexions. And you know what? It's beautiful.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is take care of your skin. Don't abuse it by over exposing it to the sun. And as your skin gets lighter with the more care you take, love it.

Embrace the white, my friends, embrace the white :)

feeling pretty

So, I follow fashion blogs like it's my job. I am very addicted. I have found so many cute ways to wear things and so many articles of clothing that I need. Need I tell you. I never really expected to do an "outfit post" of my own, but I was just loving what I was wearing on my first evening reunited with the husband on his visit to see me.

Blazer: LC Lauren Conrad, Top & Pants: Gap, Necklace: Kohl's, Watch: Toy Watch

I obviously have a ways to go if I want to do this regularly, seeing as I have... ooooh one pose and only two pictures. And not to mention no camera at school and no place to get dressed up to go to while at school without the husband. But no worries, come August, I may reconsider ;)

happiness



friday faves!

It is Friday! Which means just one more day until I get to see my husband! Until then, my weekly favorites that are making me happy:

I just LOVE new nail polish. I feel like it is a super inexpensive way to pamper yourself and make yourself feel like a new woman.  This color is so dainty and feminine and I am loving it! It's called Petal Pusher. Go get you some at Target :)

Pancakes anyone? These are whole wheat, preservative free, banana pancake deliciousness. It was perfect because I was bored with my normal breakfast routine, so I made a huge batch and froze the leftovers to reheat in the mornings. Can you say perfect finals week brain food breakfast?

Another great, inexpensive way to pamper yourself - new lip balm! I don't wear much makeup now that my complexion is getting back to normal, and I also have a very fair skin tone, so I don't feel like I need much of a bold color or shiny gloss. I have always loved Burt's Bees, and they have a new tinted lip balm. Honesuckle is perfectly neutral, and is a simple thing that brings me happiness.

Happy Friday, friends! :)



some things

I just wanted to share some things I am thankful for on this lovely fall (wait, it's May?) afternoon:

one - This weather! Seriously, I am loving it. Fall is my very favorite season, so the fact that I'm getting some in May brings me a lot of joy.

two - Exams are OVER! I didn't have many, but it has been such a long week of studying, that I'm happy to have that stress out of the way.

three - Everything that God has done for me. All too often I get wrapped up in the stresses of life, when in reality, I am so very blessed that I shouldn't have any complaints whatsoever because He uses literally every stress I have for something good. He is GREAT.

four - Husband will be here Saturday!!

Life is good, and I am thankful :)