Untitled #102
Old navy top
Untitled #100
Untitled #99
New Beginnings
It’s funny how time flies by, and without much warning a little sophomore in high school is now a junior in college, engaged, and on the track to living the life she always hoped she would. Life is not perfect (HA! Hardly) but with each new day, there is a new hope. Hope {a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen} I have found that hope is sometimes the only thing that can get you through. I find hope in the little things; sunsets, friends, and the desire to make a difference in the world.
My intentions a little over a year ago were to get back into blogging on a regular basis (hence my last post)… A year ago, I would have apologized for not keeping up, but I am not sorry. Taking a break from blogging gave me a chance to take in life. Taking a break from blogging let me seep back into a normal routine. My intentions a year later are still the same, to get back into a regular blogging schedule. However, I plan to make a few changes. Everything I post will be strictly random and whatever I am feeling at the time. Also, my blog is for me… to read and to reminisce.
If you take the time to read it, I applaud you. Here I am, Kathryn Ann; real. true. raw.
The Journey To Fit
Staying positive is sometimes extremely hard when you feel like you aren’t seeing any results. My weight loss journey began in high school. I encountered many difficult situations (like many of you), and as a result I ate and gained weight because of them. It was not until the summer before my Sophomore year of college that I really took my health and weight seriously. I was not extremely overweight but I had a lot of extra weight to shed. I began with less emotional eating, and started running! Running has been the key to my success so far.
I do not run marathons or even half marathons.
I run slow.
I even catch myself “jogging” half of the time, but I once heard a quote… “I might be a slow runner, but at least I’m lapping the people on the couch.” -Unknown
That stuck with me and motivated me.
Losing weight was not the initial goal, however; I wanted to make a lifestyle out of it. I wanted to feel better emotionally.
After about 6 months, I am not 100 lbs lighter, nor am I all muscle and no fat. I lost 22 lbs, but that is fine by me. It came off slow, and there are still weeks that I gain a few, but I don’t beat myself up. I stay positive and look at the progress I’ve made so far.
“It’s not about the journey, but the destination.”
—- Never give up!
(A lighter, happier me!)
Always ~ Katalina
Beauty Tip: Getting Rid of Dry Skin
Winter is the worst time for me when it comes to dry skin. I would say that about 80% of my skin is super dry. I use lotion every time I shower, and whenever I can’t stand the dry itchy feeling of my skin during the day. There is one, yes you heard me right, ONE single tip that I use that makes any of the dry patches on my face disappear almost immediately. ——> Vaseline!
Originally, vaseline was created as a lip therapy product, and it accomplishes that goal very well. However, vaseline can be used as a miracle product for dry skin, (especially dry spots around your nose, upper lip, etc). I use vaseline around the extremely dry spots around my nose before I go to bed. I wake up in the morning with my skin feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated.
Vaseline is a petroleum jelly, therefore it can tend to me quite sticky and messy. This might cause many people to shy away from purchasing or using this product. Do not fear; q-tips are the perfect application tool!
(Side tip: Mix vaseline or (petroleum jelly) with loose or cracked powder eyeshadow for a long-lasting cream eyeshadow!)
Always ~ Katalina
Two Years Later– Katalina
It has been nearly two years since I last sat down to write a blog post.
— I guess you could say that a lot has changed. Since the last time I wrote I have encountered many new likes/dislikes/ and changes.
1) I moved to another state to pursue a bachelors degree.
2) Changed my music taste; (I have been listening to a lot more country-pop music than ever before!)
(Yay for Cassadee Pope)
3) I have matured into a more “classy/edgy” sort of style. (I don’t even know if the two mix!)
Number one is really the only huge change that I can share, but with that change a lot has come with it. A new place of residence, new friends, new way of life, and even a new (not-so-fun) job! I am really enjoying being where I am, and now that I am in my second year of college, I am finally beginning to sense where I want to head in life.
With all of the changes, one thing has stayed the same; I am still an avid bargain shopper! I will do anything to save a few bucks, (especially with a minimum wage salary, and an ever slowly decreasing savings account). However, I cannot complain. I love where I am and the excitement has been building for where I am going in my future.
Here’s a quote that I have been loving to sum up the past two years that you have missed — “Happiness is a journey, not a destination!” -Unknown
Always ~Katalina
Beach Inspiration
My family and I are heading to the beach in a little over a week. I am super excited, and decided to post some pictures of inspiration. Where are YOU going this summer?
XOXO
Katalina
DIY: T-Shirt Dress
Step 1
Find a T-shirt that is long enough to be a dress. Try your T-shirt on inside out. Make a mark where you want your dress to cling to your body. This could be at your waist or under your bust. Take the T-shirt off. Draw a horizontal line with chalk all the way around it at the level you made the mark.
Step 2
Cut a piece of elastic the same length as the distance around your waist (or under your bust).
Step 3
Mark the middle point of this elastic by folding it in half and putting in a pin at the fold.
Position your elastic over the line you marked on your T-shirt. Put the sewing machine foot – and needle – down on top of them. With your right hand, gently pull the elastic towards you so the pin reaches the side seam of your T-shirt. This ensures you sew exactly half of your elastic onto each side of your t-shirt, so your folds will fall evenly.
Step 4
Begin sewing slowly with straight stitch onto your elastic. As you sew, check that you are attaching your elastic to the line you marked with chalk.
Continue sewing your elastic to the line until you come back to the place you started. Trim your elastic.
Step 5
If you like, you can trim the neck of your dress to make a deeper, more elegant, neckline.
Step 6
You can leave this edge ‘raw,’ as T-shirt fabric will not come unravelled, or you can use bias binding to create a professional decorative finish. Bias binding is like ribbon made of a stiffish fabric. The strip of fabric is cut ‘on the bias’, which means the fibres run diagonally through it, instead of vertically and horizontally. This gives it flexibility to bend.
Step 7
You need a piece of bias binding that is slightly longer than the full distance around the neck line. Fold the bias binding in half between your thumb and two fingers, and poisition so that it encases the edge of your fabric. Sew it down with straight stitch, catching both the front and back of your bias binding, with your fabric sandwiched in between.
Step 8
Bias binding is available in all sorts of colours. You can trim the sleeves of your T-shirt and finish the edges in a different colour bias binding.
(dit brought to you by Cut Out and Keep) XOXO Katalina
Katalina Fashionista 