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.