Falling for Fall

It's everyone's favorite time of year again! With the new season comes that giddy feeling of excitement that just doesn't seem to go away and I. CAN'T. WAIT.  Even though, here in Arizona, we still have some time before it really cools off, I want to wish you the best of the new season.

Sweaters a size too roomy,

carmel hot chocolate in cups too puny.

Cuddle weather all day long,

the smell of cinnamon, nice and strong.

Mystery movies causing fear,

the best apples you've had year.

Decorations on neighborhood streets,

cozy socks for cold feets.

Bellies full of Thanksgiving Suppers

and even the butterfly flutters.

Though my favorite thing of all, for fact,

that halloween costume you've surely packed.

Everything pumpkin without reason,

surely the start of baking season.

Shorter days with longer evenings

It's those almost Christmas feelings.

katiedaise

❤

2014 To-Do's - One Direction

Having spent the last 5 or so weeks attempting to get myself on a schedule that balances sleep, socialization, and school-work, I finally feel the familiar swing coming back to me. That doesn't mean it's easy or functional but I will be able to get the necessities done and still have a bit of time left for myself.

One of the first blogs I ever posted was about the seemingly small things I wanted to do this year. I said I was open to adding or subtracting things as the year went on but nothing about that list has actually changed, though some things have been completed. Going to a concert was one of the more critical.

Two weeks ago One Direction came to the University of Phoenix stadium, The same massive stadium where the Cardinals, Arizona's football team, plays and the same stadium that will host this football seasons Superbowl. To say the least, the place is MASSIVE and my forever friend (left most person in the above picture) came upon two spare tickets. The night was wonderful and one I won't forget for a long time to come.

I love concerts and everything about them but I usually get nervous when it comes time to purchase tickets. The large crowd of strangers are a big turnoff for me. If I can swallow the anxiety long enough for the performance to start I tend to lose track of the number of strangers around me.
(I'm on the left in the above pictures)

In fact, most of my most cherished memories are of myself and my friends at concerts and there may or may not be plans for more concerts towards the end of the year. ;)

What's the last concert you went to?

With love,

katiedaisie

Summer 2014

SO summer officially comes to and end as tomorrow is the first day of fall semester.

     I'm more excited than nervous about school: which is the reverse of the feelings I had at this time just one year ago. Excited to be 17 credits closer to a degree and just being done, but 17 credits closer to a degree that may or may not be put to good use. Still struggling with the fact that 

I don't know

 what I want from my life as far a professional career goes but coming to terms with the fact that "I don't know" is not quite mature but an entirely accurate statement. 

   Hank Green has a wonderful outlook on the phrase "I don't know" and it's an outlook that I find extremely comforting. Hank takes a philosophical viewpoint a states that "I don't know" is the most true statement a person can make. Thinking is not equal to knowing and what you think you know is nothing more than an opinion. You can find it here but be warned that it took me two watchings to fully understand.

     I'm not even sure why (who can be sure of anything after watching that) it's so comforting? I guess because it make me think that everyone who knows, or thinks they know, what they're doing is actually doing nothing more than putting on a charade (except wouldn't that makes me feel ignorant). Acting like I know what I'm doing is how I got threw the entirety of elementary, middle, and high school but I also wonder why that isn't working now? 

This semester schedule was planned not mid spring 2014 semester, as it should have been, but late summer. Late July I had picked my most important classes, Organic Evolution, Physics, and food a culture. Later July came Women Sexuality from a random draw of culture classes, and Physics changed to physics with an easier professor. Early August after much internal debate came Entomology (study of bugs, yuck but easy). Just two days ago I decided Women Sexuality wasn't a class I wanted to take and so it was swapped for Sex,Violence, and Media.

There it is in all it's glory. 

Five classes. 

17 credits worth of enhancement or punishment to my standing GPA.

Today I also emailed back and forth with my advisor on the topic of adding a second major. maybe it'll work out or maybe it won't.

Maybe everything will work out, maybe it won't.

I don't know.

Style Inspiration: Alexa Chung

I would sincerely like to know who doesn't think of Alexa Chung is a style icon.

The thing I love most about Alexa Chung's style is that she make the best of fashionable basics. She never wears all her most intricate pieces at the same time, rather a few simple classics. I find inspiration knowing that I don't need a massive closet brimming with goodies to be fashion forward (mostly because on a college budget and living situation, I can't just make that happen). Alexa makes use of a few simple articles and pulls everything together for a minimal yet chic, classic, and absolute enviable style.

katiedaisie
♥

The Best Gifts I've Ever Recieved

As far as physical gifts (the ones that require some value of monetary input on the giver's part) go, it's safe to say everyone receives their fair share of both "Oh My Gosh, how'd you know?" and "Oh My Gosh, I can't wait for you to turn away so I can throw this in the nearest waste receptacle." I'd like to share three of my most favorite gifts I've ever been given.

❤ Stuffed Bunny Rabbit

From: Easter Bunny 

Received: Easter 1995

The Story: It's hard to believe this ratty bunny was once plush and an exuberant shade baby pink as years worth of love and cuddles are definitely visible now. This is my most prized possession and the one thing I'd go back to save if the house were to burn down. At one point I couldn't sleep without and even at 19 I prefer to leave a space for it among my blankets and pillows.

❤ US Passport

From: Mom & Dad

Received: High School Graduation

The Story: This was the only thing I had asked for my high school graduation. Honestly I've only used it for a few long weekends with my friend's family to Mexico (I don't even think it's been stamped). Simply owning the tiny book gives me the feeling of having to world at my finger tips as if the universe and all it has to offer is mine for the taking.

❤ Refurbished Nikon D3200 DSLR

From: Mom & The Pops

Received: Christmas

The Story: I don't know much beyond the automatic setting on this thing (yet) but having a different perspective is both fun and refreshing. Because it was purchased refurbished, I'm not worried about being hard on it. I was told that the first camera you own is not meant to be ideal or perfect in any way, that I should "shoot the s***" out of it and learn what you like and don't like before venturing to want you really think you want/need (good advice from an aussie with a dip-dyed goatee). Overall, it's a gift that keeps giving through exhilarating challenges and the way I see the space around me.

What is your favorite gift you've ever received?

Sounds of Summer 2014

13 tunes that my ears crave this summer.

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Treatment Mask

If dry skin could dream it would dream of this product all night long and then secretly day dream about it too.

Last fall, as soon as the weather started the change, my skin was covered in dry, chapped patches that were itchy and flaky and difficult to deal with (closely resembling excema but not quite). After venturing to various drugstores looking for quick relief, I found a gem of all gems.

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Treatment Mask with clary sage

As a "moisturizing face mask' it promised to do everything I needed. 18$ and a week later my skin felt better than it had in a long while, well exceeding my highest of hopes.

I found myself reaching for this product when, at the turn of summer, similar but smaller dry patch appeared. This time was perfectly paired with an acne outbreak. I noticed that this mask almost seemed to help push the blemishes to the surface and almost heal them in it's own special way as well as heal the heal the Sahara desert patch. I realized that whatever kind of magic is in this, I need it in my life.

I think the whole premise of this product is similar to using a massive amount of moisturizer,letting it soak in, and then wiping away the excess which I'm sure you could do with a regular cream. I like this because there is a thick consistency that sticks to itself and your face without gooping all over the way it seems like a normal moisturizer would.

The product squeezes out thick like toothpaste but spreads like a cream. Feels refreshing, smells like nothing with a hint of sage and leaves skin feeling plump with moisture; more so than a night cream would. It was worth every penny in my opinion.

I like to use it just after washing my face but before bed and I have even used a small amount on my seasonal patches without the intention of wiping it off like you would when used as a mask.



I highly recommend this product to anyone experiencing their share of dry skin or seasonal flakes

Hope all is well.

with love from katiedaise

How'd I do for my first beauty type blog post?
Do you have any go-to product for seasonal dry skin worth sharing?