The Plaid Barn

Ya'll - have you heard of The Plaid Barn yet??

Daily deal sites are a dime a dozen these days (Groupon, LivingSocial, etc.) but this one is kiiiiiind of amazing. If you craft in any way - scrapbooking, jewelry making, greeting cards, home decor - ANYTHING - you want to sign up for this site. They have awesome daily deals on everything from cabochons (my favorite!) to washi tape.

AND now is the time to do it! Sign up and blog about 'em, like 'em or tweet 'em and you could win a Fuji Instax 7 and 5 twin packs of film. Yes please! Click the pic to check it out!

Cabochon crazed

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad / Sweater: American Eagle / Sandals: American Eagle (similar) / Earrings: Self made

Happy Tuesday ya'll!

I'm sorry for slacking on posting yesterday. Sometimes, my outfits are just sub-par, and I'm overwhelmed so much so with the Mondayz that posting is the last thing on my mind, ya know?

But here I am with a cute little ensemble from yesterday. I got this dress a few weeks ago on sale at Kohl's, hoping I'd be as in love with it as I was THIS one from Anthropologie. No such luck. Its cute, and it'll get some wear, but I'm still craving the Anthro version!

So is anyone else crazy about cabochons lately? I keep buying them in bulk and turning them into fun things, mainly, loads of earrings in every color. I think I see my first craft post coming! :)

xo, Katie

A white trash good time

Dress: Kohl's / Cardi: Boutique in Leavenworth / Scarf: Forever 21 (similar) / Shoes: Target

FRIDAY! So we meet again....

This week I rediscovered Revlon's Just Bitten lip stain. A few years ago when it first came out I scooped it up in several (not good for my skintone) colors. I don't really do lipstick, (I'm a chapstick girl) but I love a bit of color. I've never had a red that I've liked but they were on sale at Walgreens, and I thought, hey, why not. I picked up 2, one in 'Flame' and the other 'Gothic'. The above is Gothic - and I LOVE it. The stain stays on almost all day, even after eating. I only had to touch up once, and I used the balm all day. New obsession.

And, how cute is this little high-low dress from Kohls? So awesome for the price, its going to be a go-to to toss on for the rest of the summer, and into fall with some black tights!

So anyhooters, this weekend in the Tri-Cities is supposedly going to be bumpin'. They are hosting a little thing (the only really big festival type deal they do from what I understand) called the boat races. I'm told its like NASCAR... on water.
Yup. It sounds like a white trash good time. I'm in. So while I'm told many locals flee for the weekend, B (who decided to take Sunday off instead of working 10 days straight) and I will be putting on our respective Coors Light and camouflage baseball caps, filling our coolers with beer and heading down to the river Sunday.

I'm pretty much excited about it. Next weekend those same hats are going to get some mad use at a country music festival. Apparently, I'm a closeted redneck.

What's everyone else up to for the weekend??

xo, Katie

Thursday Remix

Cardi: American Eagle / Tank: Sonoma for Kohls (similar) / Jeans: Old Navy / Shoes: Mossimo via Target

Happy Thursday yall! Oh man, Thursday already?! Another week flown by, and another week I am not complaining. B will be working all weekend so I hope to get some serious reading done. I'm on (nerd alert) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and so far I feel like the book is nothing like the movie -- and that's why I love it! There are still some surprised in the HP sphere that were left unknown until I started reading the books. 


Ok, done geeking out. You know what I hate? Coupons from my favorite stores. 
Am I the only one that feels a twinge of horror mixed with guilt when you receive a really good coupon in the mail? It's because I know, in that moment, that this coupon will get used. It will not go on to live in the trash bin where it should, it will not be overlooked and tossed to the side. It will be happily used until my online shopping cart can hold no more. This is a problem when I'm trying to pay down my store cards already. But yesterday I got a FOURTY PERCENT OFF coupon for American Eagle. 40%. Off. Of cute basics and fall sweaters. And perhaps a colored jean or two. Oh man. My credit card is going to get a workout on this one. And I slightly hate myself for it. (But at least I'll look really good whilst I hate myself.) ;)


On to the outfit! This is the first time I've actually worn color with my green jeans and I love it. Its simple and not to loud but I really like mixing them up! What should I mix next week?? I'm thinking Tank or Cardi. Opinions??


For a lil' reminder, here's the progression of the last few weeks mixin'!

xo, Katie

Monotony

Dress: Mudd for Kohl's / Sweater: Sonoma for Kohl's (last season) / Shoes: Mossimo via Target (similar and SUPER cute)

Do you ever have a month or two where life just gets away from you? You get lost in the monotony of day-to-day and then one day you wake up, and the month is gone and you feel as though you did nothing even though you were busy all the time? That's how I feel this month. B is also in transition with his shift at work and we both have so much going on at work, we barely see each other. I'm passed out by the time he gets home, and he's still sleeping when I leave in the morning. But the up side to that madness is soon we will have fairly normal weekends together!!

So my outfit. Inneresting mix, no? I wasn't really planning on wearing this sweater with this dress, but when I put on the dress in the morning it seemed a tad short for work. I can pretty much wear whatever I want, but I dont want to be 'that girl'.. youknowwhatimean. It ended up being a pretty comfy outfit other then the fact I wanted to sit indian style all.day.long. and I couldn't due to the short nature of the dress. Oh the woes of being a woman.

xo, Katie

If you really knew me

Jacket: NY & Co. (similar) / Dress: Sonoma for Kohl's (similar) (similar) / Tee: Gap / Shoes: Toms

All my exciting news was yesterday so I don't have a lot today. But I decided in my effort to let you guys get to know me a little, I'd participate in the fun little game of 'If you really knew me' going around the bloggersphere lately! Ok GO:

If you really knew me...

You'd know Fall is my FAVORITE time of year. Nothing makes me happier then sweaters and jeans, football Sundays, crockpot meals, Halloween, crisp breezes and apple cider.


You'd know I'm a secret nerd. B and I are desperately trying to go to Comic-con next year. I'm also obsessed with all things Harry Potter.


You'd know I have to shower at night because I can't get up early enough to do it in the morning. Not so much a morning person.


You'd know I'm very crabby if I'm hungry.


You'd know I've grown a lot in the past couple years, and I feel more independent and sure about myself and my choices then ever.


You'd know I've spent my whole life in a constant state of trying to lose weight. A few months ago I finally decided to embrace my size, and instead focus on being healthy and strong.


What do people not know about you??


xo, Kathryn Laine.

Weekend wear and other exciting news

Tank: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls (similar) / Shorts: American Eagle / Sandals: American Eagle (similar) / Purse: Nila Anthony via Little Black Bag / Sunglasses: Las Vegas, couldn't you tell?!

Happy Monday ya'll!

Ohmigosh, I have so many exciting bloggy things going on right now. Bear with me because this is gonna be a long one!

I've signed up to sponsor a few of my personal favorite blogs - Because Shanna Said So and Left Brain, Right Brain, Pug Brain. These blogs are run by two beautiful, smart and funny ladies, and I'm stoked to be sponsoring them! So if you haven't checked them out before - DO IT.

Second, I'm trying super hard to explore more content for my blog. I want to share my life and my ideas with you guys, not just my outfits. So there will be some new developments in the next month or two - stay tuned on that.

Third, I know iPhone photos aren't ideal, right? I follow so many blogs with amazing photos, clearly taken with awesome cameras and edited perfectly. Truth is, I just really dont have the time for that right now. I know, I know, it sounds like a cop out, but between work and home and my other million hobbies, I've decided iPhone photos are just what I'm working with right now. BUT B did find me an awesome little clip that allows me to attach my iPhone to my tripod, so they may be insta-photos but they will at least no longer be mirror photos. I should be getting said clip mid week!

Fourth, and perhaps best of all, there will be a blog revamp coming in the next week or two! I'm so excited about the new look and I hope you guys will be too!

OK, enough of my yammering, on to my outfit. Yesterday B and I had a very spontaneous and much needed date night. After dinner (The Tri-city's idea of Chicago style pizza - not so much but tasty nonetheless) and drinks on the deck of a neat little restaurant on the river, we headed home. As we were going to swing by the gas station we saw the lights on at the Dust Devils (local baseball team we had yet to see play a game) stadium. As luck would have it, they were only in the 2nd inning. We went to the game (which we won!) and were still home early enough to play a little bit of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean. All in all it was wonderful way to spend the evening. And this is what I wore. Please excuse the bathroom photo, I'm just pleased I remembered to capture it at all!

If you read this far - thank you. If you didn't make it and just skipped to the bottom, PSH. ;)

xo, Kathryn Laine.

http://www.bonbonrosegirls.com/2012/07/monday-mingle-flower-power.html

Space Dyed

Dress: Maurices (similar space dye dress) / Vest: Maurices (similar) / Sandals: American Eagle (similar)

Happy Friday ya'll!!! This week flew by for me, and I'm not sure why considering it was a fairly slow one at work. Yesterday I had the unfortunate experience of working out on my lunch hour (my new 'gym hour'), jumping in the showers quick, and then realizing I didn't bring a towel. I had to dry myself with those awful non-absorbent cheap brown paper towels. No bueno. Luckily today we are having a fun little grill and chill at work for lunch so I'll be hitting the gym after and can shower at home! Eesh!

Anyhooters, I got some fabulous patterns and fabrics awhile back so I plan to spend my weekend sewing up a storm (not a literal one, though we have had plenty of those lately in the Tri-Cities)... I hope to blog my progress on a few pretty items.
Anyone else have super fun weekend plans??

OH and if you are an eShakti fan, use promo code KA23CKZ to get 10% off anything you purchase through July 31 - even the 40% off sale! Shop it up!

 xo, Kathryn Laine

Thursday Remix

Top: Gap sweatshirt tee (similar) / Jeans: Old Navy (same in pink) / Necklace: Maurices / Sandals: American Eagle (similar)

Here we are again! Today I'm remixing my top from last week's maxi dress turned skirt shenanigans. Remember how much I love my green jeans? Here they are again dressing up my simple white top all fancy style. I love you colored jeans. What part of my outfit should I mix next week?!

xo, Kathryn Laine.

There's a whole lotta pattern going on here

Dress: Plain Ivey Jane / Scarf: American Eagle (similar) / Cardi: Maurices (similar) / Sandals: American Eagle (similar)

I wore a very similar, ok almost exact, iteration of this outfit back on my little Vegas trip in April. I haven't yet worn this dress to work and with the sky high heat index I figured now was as good a time as any.

We made it to Wednesday already hooray! Anyone have any plans for hump day? I plan on going home, putting on my pj's and playing the Sims until bedtime. Yep. I'm THAT girl. :-D

xo, Kathryn Laine.

My favorite necklace

Skirt: Target / Tee: Old Navy (similar) / Flips: American Eagle / Necklace: Gift

Has anyone else noticed my obsession with stripes lately? Here, here and here, all in the past few weeks. I just cant get enough! I think its because striped items are, of course, a pattern, but they really act as a neutral too - making them an excellent way to pump up the volume of an otherwise ho-hum outfit. *Love.*

I have a special affinity for the necklace I paired with this outfit too - my man bought it for me when he was in Cali - and it was the first piece of jewelry he ever gave me! I recently extended it myself, it was a little short and tended to hide itself in the ole cleavage. With a little extra chain I'm getting a TON more wear out of it!

My weekend passed too quickly as they always do. Is Tuesday too soon to be counting down to Friday at 5? No? Good. Because I'm doing it already. On the upside this weekend B and I are meeting up with some friends to discuss camping and equipment prep for Watershed Festival - I cannot WAIT to get my country on!! AND get a new cowboy hat. Cuz I need one. Bad.

xo, Kathryn Laine

A belated casual Friday

Polo: Sonoma via Kohls / Pants: Gap - super old / Flips: American Eagle

Whew I fell a little behind last week. It happens, right?!
In any case, theres nothing special about this outfit other then it was insanely comfortable and made for a lovely casual Friday ensemble. Hooray!

Am I the only one that TOTALLY dresses down when Friday comes around?!

Hey lovely lady bloggers! Lets be friends!

Thursday Remix

Outfit 1 | Outfit 2 | Outfit 3 - Dress: Target / Sweatshirt tee: Gap (old)

This edition of Thursday Remix has me mixing up my yellow maxi from last week! Ok, ok, techinically it was from two weeks ago, but I was on vacay last week.

I kind of feel like there isn't a lot of ways to wear a maxi dress. You can mix it with every cardigan or jacket under the sun, but I wanted it to really feel different, so I wore it as skirt of sorts instead!

Thoughts?

Re-purposing my maxi

Skirt as a dress: Target / Cardigan: Maurices (similar) / Shoes: Thrifted Cons

A few days ago I was inspired by some adorable midi dress outfits. While midi dresses are growing in popularity, I don't actually own any. But then I thought, hey, I am the lady of many maxi skirts, so why not re-purpose a bit?! Thanks to some appropriately placed elastic, I realized why my black Target maxi is called a 'convertible' maxi. Duh. Instant midi. Looking at the photos though I'm thinking it could have used a strategically placed belt as well. Next time, maxi turned midi, next time.

What other clothing items are easy to re-purpose??

xo, Kathryn Laine

Back to the grind

Cardigan: Maurices (similar) / Pants: Kohls (similar) / Shoes: American Eagle (similar) / Tee: American Eagle / Necklace: American Eagle (similar)


Whoa. Well hey there blogland! Its been awhile.
I'm home from my vacation home, er well to Chicago. It was quite a week. Lemme tell ya. But I dont feel like chatting about shenanigans so instead here's an outfit! Woohoo! Time to get back into the swing of things.

Hope you all are well and life is good :)

xo, Kathryn Laine.