Nothing new!

Long time no update!! (sorry grandma!)

Things are busy busy busy down here in so-cal!

Business with honestly, kate. is going amazing, definitely better than I could have hoped, especially for my first couple months! YAY!

Work at Sweet Paper is amazing as well.  My friend Laura came down from Portland this week and said "I hope I will one day love anything as much as you love your job"... it can't be far from true.

I don't think I have any exciting announcements or stories to tell.. You can catch up with the business side of things on the following blogs..

My personal business site with honestly, kate. 

and I now write a weekly summery for Sweet Paper called "Fab Five", you can see them every Saturday on their website here!


Also, I got a fun little write up on their website introducing me! you can see it here!

As if you didn't have enough links to check out, here are some fun pictures!

At a park beachside by my house!! 

Riding home from the store on the path that goes from my house "in to town".  

My friend Stevie and her too cute bulldog puppy Kola at a luau! 

We are sure Kola loves us..... :)

23 & the best day of my life

YAY!  it's my birthday week! It was so great to get phone calls from friends and family, and it made my first birthday away from home a little nicer. 


It has been a very exciting week.  My birthday present to myself was tickets to watch WSU basketball come down and play UCLA.  I had a great day trip with a fellow Washingtonian to LA, where I drove home with my Cougar tail between my legs after an incredible beating from the Bruins. 


In addition, honestly,kate. made its debut in a retail store!! 
I stocked the shelves and tables of Sweet Paper with some great honestly,kate. products!
This is very exciting for me, and a huge dream come true! It was on the "three year plan"I made for honestly, kate. in January..  This plan received an immediate fast forward as soon as I started working at Sweet Paper, and I hope its just a stepping stone for great things to come! You can read more about honestly,kate. at Sweet Paper at www.honesltykate.com

the exciting news

I have a new great job!! 


If you follow me on twitter, you probably have seen me tweet about being at what has turned into my favorite place to go for inspiration, called Sweet Paper in La Jolla... they are a locally owned papery that sells cards, stationary and other paper goods. To learn a little about them, check out their blog and website here.... http://www.sweet-paper.com/.
So with high hopes, but a heavy heart, I am leaving Maudlin.  I'll only be 1 block away.. so I know I will be their #1 visitor still!  I will remain working at pier1 a few shifts a week, same management position- because if you know me, you know I always have a "just in case".. besides.. who can let go of that discount?!  I will probably be working at Pier1 when Im 100 years old.. too good to leave :-)


As my orders for cards have been tallying up on my etsy site (honestlykates.etsy.com) and my requests for custom cards are growing.. I have really started to wonder if given the time, effort, money, and nurturing- could this hobby actually turn into something?  I guess there is only one way to find out!! 


Much to my surprise, the fabulous sister co-owners of Sweet Paper put an ad on their facebook that they were hiring a sales/designer and a graphic design intern.  I quickly applied for the intern position and was excited to have an interview!  The off hours work would allow me to keep working my current schedule, but I would get a foot in the door- learning alllllll about the paper world. However,  long story short, I was offered a better position than I could even dream of!! 


I will start off working in the store 3 days a week, from about 9-6, and then scheduling consultations in the "off" time.  I will spend the first couple weeks  learning about our client needs, our merchandise and our great vendors.  Along with this- I will sit in for a few consultations the owners have a with clients (think brides.. or event planners that need great invites) to work with templates that our great vendors have, or- develop something completely custom.  Once they think I am able to meet with my own clients, I will begin doing that as well!  I literally daydream about setting up orders with the "over the top" wedding invites their unique vendors provide.. To get a better idea, check out the site for one of the wedding sets-  and a picture of my favorite.. the mailer is in a little tin.. I wonder how many stamps that would take...??
 http://sparkstationery.blogspot.com/2011/12/introducing-spark-impress-new-for-2012.html

I am very excited to give the "graphic designer" hat a try.. It was always an interest while I was at WSU, and am excited to apply my interest to something profitable!!  
The most exciting part for me, is that the owners are looking into printing some of my designs in store and selling them as a line! This is very exciting for me- as having my work in stores was more of a "5 year plan"... 


Here is some more eye candy of the store! SO EXCITED!!

update!

Im officially the worst at updating this!! 

I'm going to throw some photos up of two exciting events that happened in the past couple months.  The first being the visit of Mom, Dad, Corey and Ashley.. It was so great to see everyone!! Grandma and Grandpa were even able to come down for a couple days too!! Christmas in January!!

The second was the chance to go to a PGA event at Torrey Pines!! It was unreal to watch the old and new greats of golf to play in the Farmers Insurance Open at the beginning of the month. We went on the second day, so it wasn't very crowded and it was really easy to hop between holes and get a chance to see everyone. 


Here are some photos of the Family Visit!
One of my very best friends that Corey and I have known since our early elementary years lives down here, and I am so thankful we had time to meet with them for brunch.  In addition, Ashley's best friend from her child hood years was also able to come down from Carlsbad.  It was such a great time to be surrounded by so many years of friendships and relationships, family and friends- if even only for an extended brunch. 

As I mentioned in the last entry. Changes are always happening! 
I have QUITE an exciting change coming up... news I can't QUITE share until tomorrow.. 
So come right back.. because now I know you have to be curious :-)

The only constant is change

Happy New Year Readers!! (aka Hi mom and dad!)

It has been a busy busy holiday for me! As you saw on my last post, I was excited to cross two things off my bucket list, but luckily for me, the fun didn't stop there!!

For an update for those who don't know yet, my job at Maudlin had a very exciting change!  We moved locations from the spot she has been at for 20 years, to a great space about 5 blocks closer to the water, right in the middle of the La Jolla village on Fay.  In about 48 hours we moved "old Maudlin" to "new Maudlin"... its safe to say Maudlin got a little re-modelin' (that phrase well never get old).  Its also safe to say that when I said "we moved" I really meant Bryan (our Atlanta partner) and Kyle (my friend here) did a lot of heavy lifting while Jennifer and I did a lot of walking around pretending to be busy.  There was a fair amount of runs to Don Carlos (delicious burritos) and Dick's Liquor (for multiple bottles of "celebratory champagne").  The move came at the perfect time, as Jennifer closes up for the 2 weeks of Christmas thru the beginning of the New Year, so I got a much needed two week vacation, but am VERY ready to go back to work tomorrow morning!! 

For those of you who know my deepest darkest dreams of being a paper goods designer/paper shop owner, you will not be surprised to hear that I have also opened an etsy shop! Some little goodies I have come up with can be found and purchased here (shameless plug) www.honestlykates.etsy.com 

I am excited to add more to my shop, and even more excited to already be working on a custom order for a wedding!!! Cards are being made based off some she saw on my site- but altered to match her wedding colors.  As if I couldn't use the word "excited" enough- I am even more (x100)  excited that they will also be sold at Maudlin in both La Jolla and Atlanta.  

Bowls and Bulls

In the spirit of new years, the time of the year when I pretend like there is any kind of resolution I can make to make myself even more fabulous, I have a very exciting announcement. 


In two days, I was able to cross two things off my bucket list. 


1. Go to a Bowl Game.   I was fortunate enough to get my hands on three FREE tickets to the Holiday Bowl that was here at Qualcomm Stadium earlier this week.  Two of my friends dressed in our Texas Orange.. okay.. it was more like hunter/construction worker orange, here are some shots of the game!!

2. Ride a mechanical bull!! Its true!! I went on down to The Double Deuce and took a ride!  

Sorry about It.

So it's been a little while. Now that grandma has moved down to this region of the country- Its been easier to keep her up on the day-to-day, which was the whole point of the blog to begin with.. Let the family know what going on..  but after many complaints from my fans, I've been pushed on to write another entry.. This must be what my homegirl J.K Rowling feels like being pressured into another Harry Potter.  Something of the sort anyways. So, as always, I thought to myself- "self, you must write another entry for you avid readers".. Well here it is.


I took a couple days off so I could get a 3 day trip into to visit my grandparents in Desert Hot Springs.  Let me paint a picture of what this place looks like.  Imagine (in the middle of the desert) a fancy trailer park.. but instead of a sofa parked in the front yard- its a golf cart.  My grandpa calls is a "self administered nursing home" and it also sounds like "God's Waiting Room" is a popular name.  


I've been sitting around for a while, listening to stories of the trailer park gossip, by those who wish to remain nameless, but have given me permission to share my tale. Almost at the same time- my aunt and I come up with the idea that will make us millions.  Now I know everyone is just as obsessed as me with the Real Housewives of Freaking Anywhere, and so grew the idea of the Real Housewives of Alamar Acres (the name of said community).  It would be like watching seven of that English saucepot, Lisa Vanderpumps from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills all in one show.  It was at this moment I decided I needed to pour myself a drink(s) and begin this blog entry. It's all about my new perspective on life. 


Here I was thinking now that I was a college graduate, my life was going to go downhill until I was eventually 6ft under.  Don't get me wrong, I still use my student discount at the movie theater in hopes that it will dollar by dollar pay back my tuition.. but post graduate life is a serious downgrade. 
Gone are the days of getting a pizza on Wednesday,  leaving it on the counter- and having it for breakfast on Friday.  No longer can I wear the same pair of sweatpants for an entire week, confidently blaming my drop in personal hygiene on finals week.  


But in nothing less then a Christmas miracle, I have seen the light. I now know that there is a better time in life, and this time is called retirement.  Sure, I've got a ways to go.. and sure, I need to start working to retire.. but just knowing that I will one day wear pajamas all day without judgement, and go to bed at 7pm without being accused of being lame brings hope to a college grads life, who knows thats it's a lot of hard work to feed here at the bottom. 


But speaking of going to bed early, I must do just that.  The trailer park ladies and myself have a big day of shopping ahead of us tomorrow.. starting at 5am. 


xo-
Katie. 

kicking water and throwing sand

These past couple days I had the joy of experiencing two very different and rare phenomenon.. The first being "glowing tide" and the second being a Padres victory.  I will begin with the former. 


Now, I recommend you google this, because its actually pretty cool- but every now and then something happens with plankton.. or kelp.. or something.. and the water turns red and smells gross.. and its really kinda gross.. but then when night comes, whenever there is a disruption in the water, it glows like a glow stick!!! so when waves and the tide comes in.. and its usually all white and foamy- it glows a really bright green color.  I seriously can't get over it.  I checked it out with some friends on Monday, and then again on Tuesday.  When there is enough of whatever makes it glow when water comes in, the footprints you left in the sand would have glowy water left in it.. and you could kick the water, and it would splash glowy-ness, or kick the sand- and it would glow.. way cool, pretty magical. 


The second rare phenomenon was a Padres victory! yay! My friend and I were able to make it to the last game of the season, where we pulled off a win against the Cubs, also very fun.. it got a little chilly, so it was a good thing I packed my WSU snuggie.  go cougs!

the time I accidentally drove to mexico

 A few weeks ago I had to go to Ontario for work.  It took about 3 minutes to figure that "Ontario, CA" was about two hours North, and thats where I was actually going.. the 3 minutes prior I thought I was going to Canada.  I have also learned that as far as Southern California is concerned, Canada doesn't exist. 


So I type the address into my handy little GPS and start on my way.  


I have learned that California will tax you on anything it possibly can.  .05 cent state tax on candy, soda, and other various unhealthy goodies... $12.50 tax on an already $40 parking ticket... and now, my new enemy, toll roads. 


So Im traveling along this road, and I come to a stop, like I was crossing some sort of border and read the overhead sign.  $3 toll. 


three dollar toll... wait. what?  What is this.. the three billy goats gruff? So I fish out my debit card. 


"Cash only". the attractive man unattractive woman tells me. 
My least favorite words. This girl does't carry cash because I don't plan on traveling to 1997 anytime soon..   "yah, sorry.. I only have a card.. can I pay online or something"  I figured if you can pay your parking tickets online, maybe you can do this too..  She let me go with a warning. phew. crisis averted. 


So I keep traveling along, get off the exit and on to a new highway.. and I see another toll sign. Awesome. This one was .50 cents.  Okay, maybe I can scrounge up half a dollar to pay the toll.. 


No, I actually didn't have .50 cents.  I searched my car, purse, cup holders, console, everything for .50 cents.  I found about .07 cents, almost .50 cents in CANADIAN money (had I been going to Ontario, Canada, I would be getting somewhere), and obviously- a $5 circus circus poker chip from Vegas. 


My turn was up.. an even more attractive man  less attractive woman than the one previoulsy encountered stuck out her hand ".50 cents please".. I told her I had about .50 cents Canadian, .07 cents US and a $5 Circus Circus chip.  Kill me, Ive already had my toll warning.. what is going to happen? 
Maybe they would make me work as a toll money taker.. maybe in a year after slaving for the California toll master, I would too look like one of these really attractive men very unfortunate looking women. 


She gave me a card to pay online.. I knew that had to have been an option. 
(FYI, there is a $5 minimum to pay online..) I wonder if I get a toll credit. 


On my way home, I had to find a way to go around these toll roads.. In hindsight (which we all know is always 20/20) I guess I could have went to an ATM.. but I found my way around these toll roads. 


Long story short, I got lost and ended up at the Mexico border. 


Moral of the story, carry the currency of your own country with you just in case. 

tandem bike riding- two much fun

YAY !!! I had another visitor!!! 

Jordan MacPherson, a friend from college came to visit me for a quick overnight trip! 

I was very blessed with her visit because it allowed me to scratch some more things of my San Diego "to do" list!

First things first we rented a tandem bicycle so that we could transport ourselves from beach to beach and place to place, shopping, lunch, ect without having to worry about parking the car, driving- blah blah blah.. 

Luckily, our tandem bike was crimson and grey... (well.. more like rust and unfinished metal... but as recent WSU grads, we called it crimson and grey) .. so we quickly referred to it as the Couagrmobile. 

Im not even going to start on what a disaster the first 15 minutes of riding the bike was.. I was the driver- so let your mind go to the worst case scenario, its probably accurate. Our first trip was from Pacific Beach to Mission Beach, so we could go to Belmont Park. 

Once we went to Belmont Park, a little amusement park in Mission Beach so we could ride The Giant Dipper- a cute little oceanfront roller coster built in the 1920s.  We got our ticket for the one ride and scored the back seats. They only had lap bars, so our arms were free to take pictures of the great views we were about to see! Or so we thought..

Allow me to paint a picture of what really happened. 

We started the slow raise to the top of the first hill, the clanking of the chains pulling us up reminded me of the wooden roller coasters at a themepark near my home town called Silverwood.  We're snapping pictures on the way of up the bridge and of each other, ready for our cute little ride.  We start down the first hill, and Jordan and I are screaming like we are at Six Flags. I mean really screaming.  The little 10 year old kid in front of us kept turning around and giving us dirty looks...  Literally terrifying. Super Rude. 

The first take off (not smooth.. the basket fell off)

Proudly parking the limo

A basket to hold all our goodies (cotton candy)

this is me pretending the roller coaster was fun

tandem biking on the beach!

Jordan taking pictures before we knew it was going to get scary

la jolla

Happy 4th of July!!  Im afraid it has kind of lost it's luster for me here... Seeing as Sea World has fire works every night  just down the water from my house... and the holiday traffic this weekend has been impossible where I live..PB sounds like WSU greek row (on a monday) every night this weekend.. not a good time to live by the beach :-)


I am growing pretty fond of La Jolla, the town I work in, and I am pretty sure it is because of the sea lions.  On memorial day, I walked around the beach where they hang out, literally feet away from people swimming.. it was pretty fun.  At the same time, I was thinking, you couldn't pay me enough money to swim in that nasty sea lion polluted water... 

So of course, two days ago, I took a little dip in the nasty sea lion polluted water, and like everyone else, I survived.  I also wore a wet suit (picture the episode of friends where Ross wears the leather pants- thats me with this wet suit) and had a go at snorkeling.. which pretty much consisted of me kinda swimming around, more concerned about just staying alive than looking at fish and other water things.  Of course there was absolutely nothing harmful about the events- I was just kinda freaked. 

We snorkeled into some caves which was really neat (really really neat).. and we could climb around the rocks and stuff.. well as much climbing as I could do with flippers.. so I sort of scooted/crab walked up.. it happens.  Our flippers were hurting our feet, so instead of swimming back, we hopped out at some rocks and walked back. 

It was at this moment that I realized I am not outdoorsey, or daring, at all.  The people I was with, my friend and his sister- were like Simba and Nala prancing along these rocks to get out. 

Picture a potato scaling some rocks. That was me. 

Just like on the paddle boarding day, when I was done I had this feeling of "aw I don't want to leave" and then I remember I'm not on vacation.. and living here is amazing. 

day off #2

I have the entire day off today- so it's pretty exciting, its the first one since Memorial Day!! This morning I went paddle boarding (google image it... I had to also) which was amazing.  I didn't fall in the water- really surprising.. but I had the beginner board, which is like the training wheels bike, so I imagine tipping it would have been pretty impressive.   My favorite part was when we paddled by dolphins!!!!  Im still in awe.. they were so cute, diving around each other, probably 20 feet from our boards!!!  It might have been one of the coolest things  I have ever seen. Whenever anybody comes and visits me (hint hint, someone please come play down here with me) Paddle boarding is an absolute must.  Too much fun.  Maybe if I go again I wont accidentally spin around in circles trying to back up.. and exceed .000025 mph.  


Also, another cool development I have discovered, is that they are filming the Real World down here, a few houses down from where I was house sitting in La Jolla.. which in hindsight, explains all the cameras. duh.  But we saw them out on a big yacht type boat today... they waved, I waved.. and then continued to spin around in circles on my board.. Im really crossing my fingers for a cameo.  Wish me luck (sike).  But I guess they are always out at the bars around PB, the area I live in... so maybe another day :-).  


I also learned today that Torrey Pines just isn't a golf course. News to me. And went hiking there today... there were lots of Torrey Pine trees. also news to me.  But it was right by the ocean, and pretty cool.  I think my cardio work outs might be paying off because the the thought that I might die only crossed my mind twice, and one was because I saw a sign to look out for rattle snakes. yikes!!!  Anyways, after the little hike trail, there are really cool stairs (that took me no less than 45 minutes to walk down) the pop right out at the beach!! the following pictures are of that part of my outdoorsey adventure day.  I think I need a nap. 

the cool little stair case to the beach, you can see the water in the background!

I think tomorrow after work I'm doing a little evening snorkel in the caves around La Jolla... Things you can't do in Eastern Washington.


xoxo
Katie. 

as you could have guessed

for those avid readers (yes, all 3 of you) who read my last entry.. you probably could have predicted the following statement.  Kickboxing, along with growing a beard and underwater breathing... is not up my alley.  Between my absolute lack of hand-eye coordination, and fear that the punching bag was going to punch me back.. I think its safe to say that today was my first and last.. of that. 


With all my grueling workouts (hardly) I noticed that my shoes were really starting to hurt my feet when I was running.. So I decided I needed new kicks!!  I went to fashion valley mall- wearing my old shoes, and indeed they were about a size too small.. not surprising seeing as I think I got them in 2007..  I walked into Lady Footlocker, and was greeted by a girl my age wearing her footlocker/ref jersey with leggings, fake eyelashes, and at least 45 bumpits in her hair.  at least.  Perfect. 
"hi... Im looking for shoes that I can wear at the gym, and running outside" 
she snapped her gum, blew a bubble. "over here" I followed her to the wall of shoes.. a real magellan she was.. how would I ever have found the wall of shoes without her assistance. 
"these ones are really popular.. they're green.. they come in orange, but I dont think they are as cute" super, shes an artist too. 
"yah, I can see that"  I pretty much have my bachelors degree in colors lady.. tell me something I dont know. 
She spent about another 45 minutes telling me all the colors of shoes.. She did pretty good.. until she called a salmon pink "coral" but.. you win some you lose some. 


I went to Nike and picked out these beauties, they're pink. and charcoal. 

I've also started running along the bay by my house.. My trainer suggested going down to the beach and running in the damp sand because it wont kill your shins and its good resistance for your muscles.. and that setting a timer on my phone for 12 minutes and sprinting as fast as I can for 30-45 seconds, and then walk for the same amount of time.. apparently this is as good of a work out as "jogging around" and medium pace for an hour. Sounds good to me.  So I did this with my new shoes.. 


Thats a lie. I sprinted for 10 minutes.. and looked for seashells for the other two.
fine.. I sprinted for about 8.. looked for seashells for two and played with a puppy whose owner was super cute for 2.  Tomorrow I'll be better. The area is really neat!! There is a place where the sail boats can dock.. so there is always a bunch of sail boats in the water too.. It looks like lots of fun!!

read this if you're bored.

I finally got all settled in... unpacked (aka hung up my clothes in a closet) and got shelving, drawers and such for my room... All I need is some stuff to cover the walls.. and I think I will be good to go!


Of course, as soon as that was done, it was time for my house/dog sitting adventure to begin.  For two weeks I'm staying at Jennifer's house in La Jolla- the Bird Rock neighborhood.. its right by the beach and her house is beautiful! She has two very friendly- but always excited dogs.. I only remember the name of one of them- Rodeo- so when Im communicating with them- they are both referred to as Rodeo... a group name... You win some you lose some I guess.


I also got a gym membership- and even a personal trainer- so I'm committed to going at least once a week (but I've been going much more.. because I have nothing else to do) Im pretty sure my personal trainer hates me.. he laughed at me when I told him I was 95% sure I was having a heart attack. Rude. Next week were having a kickboxing session.. Do I need a mouth guard? Maybe I'll bring one just in case. 


All in all, everything is going great :)
Until next time. 


Katie

calling all visitors!

All moved into the house in Pacific Beach where I will be living until at least October, if I like it (and I think I will) I might resign the lease when the existing one is up if we find one more roommate, because one of the girls is moving to San Francisco. I've snapped some pics so you can check out my new digs- and the view 2 blocks from my house at the end of the street! 

the little things

After my first "real" week down here, I have noticed that I find the biggest change in the little things... 


When I wake up in the morning, I watch/listen to the local news, I think I'm finally used to the "surf report" but I don't think I'll get used to what weather I need to pay attention to on what I call the weather grid.  Because of the location, the San Diego weather (on this particular station) is presented in a grid.  the normal "high, low, precip, humidity, ect" is across the top like normal, but there is four of them stacked on each other presenting the "coastal, inland, mountain, desert" So I have to be quick to listen and read, otherwise ill be prepared for the 95 degree desert weather, when really, I needed to be listening for the 65 degree costal weather. 
drama.


Im ALMOST able to drive to and from work without using my GPS. but its definitely limited TO and FROM work, and only when I'm starting and ending at Pats house (see the cast of characters).  and even though I drive the same 2 routes everyday, I cant get over the names of the exits I take.. "Sea World Blvd." is probably my favorite, and even though I take the "Los Angeles" exit going home from work- I would rather take the one that leads you to the beach.. called "Beaches"- it never fails to amuse me. 


I've kept nice and busy- not really by choice, but I'm very very very glad to be working. Since I got back last week (Monday) I've worked every day between the two jobs.  I scored next monday (memorial day) off, and am going to a pool party with Zach and Alex (see the c.o.c) really excited! it will make the 13 days of no days off worth it! 


I'm OBSESSED with the big project happening at Maudlin right now, its a farm to plate eatery opening in Del Mar this summer- were doing all the fixtures for it.. heres the web site so you can check what its all about (  www.urbanplates.com  )


I move into the townhouse in Pacific Beach with two roommates who already live there on the 1st, so I'm anxiously looking forward to that.. but will miss Pats delicious baking!! I can smell homemade banana bread in the oven now.. yummmmm!  The lease for that place is up in October, in that time I will either not want to leave its awesome awesome awesome location (I could't afford to live in the area without a roommate- or two. not to mention its an AWESOME place, everything is new new new) and find two roommates to fill the other spots- OR (and most likely) I'll find a new place to move into on my own. 


hopefully more exciting things will happen so I have more to update you on!! 


xoxo

Cast of Characters (ever changing)

Whos who in my new life!!!


Pat- pat is the woman who make it all happen.  I met her for a few hours when I was down here 
        in February, and the next thing I know she found me a job, a home, and pretty much my 
         life as it is. 
Jennifer-  Jennifer is my new boss at Maudlin. She's pretty much a boss at life and I'm so 
          excited to soak up all her knowledge and sass. 
Zach- Zach is my friend from.. like.. 4th grade who lives down here.  I went with him to the 
         party that I met Pat at.. Love him :) 
Alex- Alex is Zachs super fox fiancee. love him too :)
Andria- Andria is super amazing as well!! it was at her birthday party that I went to with Zach, 
        in which I met Pat, to get a job working for Jennifer. 
Daniel- Daniel is Pats son who went to WSU for two years, which got me talking to Pat.  He's 
        kind enough to let me tag along with him to evening outings, and mooch on fun with his 
       friends. 


Okay- so I guess my cast is pretty small.. but there will be more to come soon!