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?

Instagram Update

Instagram is becoming my favorite social media platform, and fast. I love that it only shows you what you actually want to see. There's no promoted posts or random links that take you random places with accidental clicking. Just the good stuff. I'm becoming more and more fascinated with iPhone photography and more artsy images that constantly flow through my feed. Instagram is one thing I like to put effort in to, make it look really good sometimes by adding a filter and sometimes not. I'm looking forward to making another post like this summing up my posts and comparing these in the future.

Find me on Instagram, If you find the follow button it's guaranteed I'll check out your stuff.

@katiedaisie

❤

The 'Draft' Craft

Well it's been one hot minute since my last published post, but I do have just one question.

Why do I have more drafts than I do published posts?

Being fair, I do not have zillions of posts overall but the drafts outweigh publishes, heavily. I've decided to start a completely new post rather than struggle to revise a started post. Not sure why, all these unfinished posts are as such but I do know one thing: I haven't stopped thinking of things to write about, or for that matter trying to write about the thoughts I have. 

I may be able to contribute most of hesitation to push the publish button to not being completely happy with the sight I see when I push 'View Blog" even though I know that is hardly a viable excuse.

In attempt banish the hesitation, I've decided to try and formulate at a minimum of one publishable post per week. This goal seems absolutely feasible and surprisingly enough is causing any kind of nerves or anxiety.

A post for this week (June, 15th-21st) complete. 

I will even throw in an unnecessary selfie that I am too self conscious to post to Instagram for the time being.

xoxo, k.

P.S. I'd love to know what your favorite kind of blog posts are or who your favorite blogger is? Otherwise you can leave some love in the comments and I promise to respond. ; )

Utah and Gymnastics.

Back in April, my gymnastics team traveled to Salt Lake city Utah to compete. I packed my bags, including my camera, keen to document the entire experience. This competition in particular was close to everyone's heart as it's main goal was to raise funds in support of Team USA's most decorated tumblr, Kalon Ludvigson. You can read about Kalon and the accident here.

If you've never been to a gymnastics competition before, this video I created sums up the experience fairly well.  Though you may not know all the faces personally, you can get a pretty good feel for what kind of person they are.



The Salt lake city convention center had this cool structure attached that goes straight up in the air. Apparently does something amazing like make noise when the wind blows through it but I didn't get to experience that. this is what it looked like standing dead center and looking straight up.

After competition on the second day a few teammate that didn't compete the next morning wandered the back streets and dark alleyways for an underground Mexican food joint that allows it's customers to ride donkeys. Needless to say we found it but the donkey part was a false plea to get people to try their food.

Here's some other pictures I took but I don't have an explanation for.

xoxo, katiedaisie

P.s. I welcome your critiques of my photographing skills will open arms. :)

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Double Whammy Music Discovery

Lianne La Havas
Yesterday's usual internet peruse lead me to Free People's BLDG 25 Blog post about their song pick of the week (find it here) for a week mid-December. They choose an upcoming, London born, artist by the name Lianne La Havas, and what a ring that name has. Free People highlighted one song in particular, "No Room For Doubt" accompanied by a video published by 'La Blogothèque,' in which the young girl casually walks the streets of Paris with an electric guitar and amp strapped to her waist. Between street performers, artists, and sometimes scrutinizing pedestrians, she plays for those who will listen and even those who don't. Her voice is so pure and by the end of the video I was hooked, searching for more of her work in awe and admiration of her voice, style, and perfectly lop-sided bun.

La Blogothèque
At the end of the above mentioned video, suggestions for similar items are presented to you, the viewer. I had immediately noticed another video by Lianne La Havas, done on the same channel (this one here). Similar beauty to the first can be found in this one, and I really just loved the vibes both videos contain. Searching for more a second discovery was made. La Blogothèque This youtube channel takes your favorite, often underrated musicians, and captures their raw talent for display. A Take Away Show, as both of the above mentioned videos are labeled, is a type of video La Blogothèque posts which display the very intimate artist-art relationship, live and raw/uncut. I have loved each of the works I've allowed my eyes and ears experience, I think mostly because each allows an innocent love for the music to be expressed for both points of view, artist and viewer. It's about the music and the passion people have for the music, and I love it because it's something you don't usually get to experience. 



This one is my favorite posted by La Blogothèque that I have seen so far but all are incredible and absolutely stunning.


Heres some links if you'd like to discover more for yourself:
liannelahavas.com
en.blogotheque.net/
youtube.com/user/LaBlogotheque