This & That

First of all, don't forget about the give away I've got running! You can enter to win a 25% off discount to Nays Custom Leather's Etsy Shop and a custom leather bracelet anyway that you want it!
I have a bracelet and I wear it every day! In fact, I'm wearing it right now. They are adorable and I know you want one! So hurry and enter to win while you have the chance

It's always worth it to enter a giveaway! What do you have to lose?!

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This day has been...interesting. 

First, I got up a little late (I've been staying up way too late re-watching Grey's Anatomy) and had to rush to get ready. I had to stop and get gas and I decided to grab myself some hot chai at the Beans & Brews. Drinking tasty hot drinks is all part of me trying to embrace the suck that is Utah in the winter time...

Well, the line at the Beans & Brews was way longer than it looked, so I started to get all anxious that I was going to be late, then I looked in my lap and realized that my badge wasn't on...so I had to go back home and get it. Luckily, I made it on time, but not before spilling my chai all over in my car...Good one, Katie.

Luckily, there was still quite a bit left in the cup because I opted for the 20 oz...but still, I spilled hot, sticky liquid all over. Not cool. 

Then we got slapped with all these new rules at work. Some people have abusing their privileges of not being watched like a hawk...so now everyone with my job title has to report what we're doing every moment of the day...Awesome? Not really. Of course, that is part of life, dealing with rules, but it's annoying that people had to ruin it for those that follow them.

I also decided today, that even though I don't believe in astrology and horoscopes and the like, sometimes, they tell me some good shit. Read this and tell me that this is something I didn't need to hear? Oh, you can't? I thought so...it's kinda dead on.  If you know anything about me, you know that today's horoscope almost made a believer out of me...(still a skeptic though.)

Yesterday, I was listening to this Mumford and Sons song and I started wondering why I don't just listen to them all the time...They speak to me and their composition is fantastic. If you don't listen to them or you've never listened to them, I recommend you look into them. They rock.

And...tonight, I'm taking my adopted little brother out to dinner and a movie. Okay, so he's not really my adopted little brother. He's J's little brother, but I wish he was mine, so we're pretending. I'm really excited to hang out with him, but now I have to go clean up the spilled chai so he can ride  in the car. That's just how things go for me! 

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!


Enter the giveaway while you still can!

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What We Are Made Of

So, it's about time that I say a little something about my awesome sponsor! You may have noticed his little banner down  at the bottom each post throughout the month. You have probably also noticed that it's Nay's Custom Leather.  It's not a coincidence, it is my daddy's business.


Telling my daddy's life story would take days. It could fill pages and pages of books upon books. He has been hunting and trapping ever since he could walk, learning completely by trial an error. He has always been the independent type who is constantly working at improving.

He left home the day he turned 18 and finished out his senior year in Montana on his own. He worked as a ranch hand(aka: Cowboy), a guide for hunters, a farrier (horse shoe-er), and many other jobs that have enhanced his abilities in his trade. My daddy has been working with leather for over over 20  years. Entirely self taught, his abilities are growing with each and every day.

He started with his own saddle. After that, he sold 5 more. His little sister displayed one of his saddle in the display window at the bank in downtown Salt Lake.  He had taught himself to make something only the best of leather workers can do...He is really very extraordinary. And he sells everything he makes for ridiculously low prices for the quality.


Here's a few pictures of him in his early days:



As time has passed his business has grown and adapted to the times. The demand for saddles just isn't what it used to be. My dad's business has been growing steadily for several years. Recently, he  expanded his business into the online sector. He got himself a Facebook and shocked us all! In fact, he's better at Facebook than I am.  He opened up a shop on Etsy and has expanded his merchandise into new fields. I have yet to seem him fail at creating something that someone asks him to make.

He has a true passion for working with leather. He believes in working hard for the things you have and always providing great service. He has a quick turn around and will always do his best to create exactly what his customers ask for.


This business is the epitome of what a small business should be. He created it from he was made of...My dad is a great example to me and it is a honor for me to advertise his business here on my little piece of the internet. So, do me a favor, enter this giveaway for 25% of anything in the Etsy store!

Don't write this off thinking there is nothing you would like! Take a look at all of these things that David (Daddy to me) can make for you!


Here are a couple things that I have. I have more than this...but this is what I've already got pictures of. 


Enter to win...nearly anything under the sun!









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Washing Your Hair Is Overrated

Here is attempt #2 at the Messy Challenge.

Visit Kelly's blog Messy. Dirty. Hair. to learn more about it and what it means to her!

And...MERRY CHRISTMAS! An awesome vliggity-vog-blog just for you!

This was made after 6 days of not washing my hair! Today would make 7 and an entire week...But I will probably break down and wash it at some point during this day...so yeah, and without further ado...(is that a thing?)


If you're wondering how my hair looked each day of the challenge, these puppies are in order

 

Yup...that's 6 days of no washing my hair. Dirty hair, don't care. What up?

All I would like to say, is I hope that you, too, learn to embrace the mess. It's an amazing thing that will truly set you free :)



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Toys For Tots!

Today, I asked Nathan to take over and share with you his awesome promotions that are raising money for one of my favorite charities "Toys for Tots".  Service is so important, especially this time of year! So take a some time to read this and do what you can to help him out!

Hi all, I’m Nathan and I blog over at Life & Everything Else In-Between, also known as LEEIB. Yes, I am one of few male bloggers and I’m proud of it! My blog is a lifestyle blog for the most part but occasionally I’ll blog about something else in between. I’ve been blogging for about two years now on LEEIB and as recent as this summer I made a few big changes to my blog. The first big change was a new professional design done by Jenn over at Munchkin-Land Designs. For anyone that doesn’t know Jenn, she’s super nice and does amazing work. I would never go through another designer and that’s not a knock on any other designers out there but as you probably know once you find your go to person you’re set for life. The other big change I made? I started a program on the blog called In The Community and that’s what I’m here to talk to you about today.
I started the In The Community program on LEEIB as a way to give back to the community through various fundraisers, charitable events, and sponsor donations. The ultimate goal is to give back to organizations and people in need. My saying is that “every little bit counts!” We don’t raise thousands of dollars on LEEIB (and when I say “we” I talk about Erin, my wife, who’s also part of this) but we raise enough to make a difference. It would be great if someday we could get to a point where we did raise thousands of dollars but that’s not our ultimate goal. A small donation of $3 counts just as much as $2,000 when you talk about making a difference and with the help of the community we can all make a huge difference!

In October we raised a little over $50 for breast cancer research! Earlier this month we donated $25 to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief aid. Every little bit counts and here at LEEIB we’re doing our best to make a difference. Please consider helping us this month through sponsorship proceeds. We’re raising money for the Marine Toys For Tots foundation and we have set a goal of $100.00. We’re currently at $38.11! How it works this month is if you buy a sponsor spot we’ll donate 100% of the proceeds to the program. We’re also doing a few promotions and they are as follows: 55% off on cyber Monday with the code CYBERMONDAY and 10% off every day after that with the code TOTS. On Wednesday December 12th we’ll be knocking select sponsor space down to $3 and also presenting a giveaway consisting of $15 to amazon.com via e-gift card and an extra month of ad space! Be sure to stop by and be a part of this awesome program! Click here for the LEEIB Toys For Tots page.
The whole goal of my In The Community program is to give back and if you don’t want to participate in this particular giveaway there are many ways you can make a contribution in your community! Please consider doing something to make a difference! If you do, we want to know about it! Please stop by the LEEIB In The Community page and fill out the form and submit a photo of you serving the community! We’ll post that photo and a description on our in the community fan page!

Lastly, I want to thank Katie for allowing me to take over her blog today! She has a great blog and I'm very appreciate of her service through the US Army reserve. Let's all wish her well at basic in January! If you'd like to read more about me feel free to become a follower of my blog at leeib.com.


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5 For Five

Before I jump into the link up, I just want to say a couple of things!

First of all I have purchased some ad space from several awesome bloggers! Hopefully that means a whole bunch of new friends! 
Also, remember DefineBliss from my 50 followers giveaway? Well, for Cyber Monday (that's like Black Friday but for online shopping...I just learned that on Friday haha) she is running an awesome promotion! Check it out here!

Also, she has also joined my daddy in sponsorship! My blog is now sporting her button! Please, pay them a visit this CyberMonday!

Interested in sponsoring me? Shoot me a lil' email and let me know!
knay93@gmail.com


FantasticallyAverage

Today, I decided to try this 5 for Five link up with Jessica from Fantastically Average.  I love the concept of this link up and I have a lot of stuff I need to get done in the next little while before I leave for Basic and AIT.

So, here are my first 5 for Five goals!

1. Write a complete shopping list for Christmas. Include each family member and 2-3 ideas for what to get them.
2. Write a list of things I want for Christmas.
3. Plan my sister's baby shower! (This is not just an excuse to sit on Pinterest for hours after work, I swear it...)
4. Clean my room.
5. Orgaize all things bloggy

Next week's 5 for Five will be a little more interesting because I'll actually have some stuff accomplish...or not, but until then, this will have to be all!

 
"Like" me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter @camocolored
Follow me on Instagram @camocolored


Don't forget to check out my November Sponsor!
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Sunday Social [4x4]

**If you have ever been to a baby shower, thrown one, had one or have ideas for one, please, read my last post! I need your help!**
It's Sunday! You know what that means? Time for the Sunday Social. Head over to Neely's blog A Complete Waste of Make up or Ashley's Carnival Ride to link up!

Sunday Social

1. Name 4 jobs you’ve had in your life:
Get this...I've only had one job in my entire life! I'm a relay operator for the deaf and hard of hearing 
2. Name 4 movies you would watch over and over: 
The Sandlot, Little Rascals, She's The Man, and Pitch Perfect. If you have see Pitch Perfect, or even if you haven't, I recommend watching this. When it comes out on DVD, I'm buyin it and watching it every. Single. Day. Until I leave for basic.
3. Name 4 places you have lived: 
I have only ever lived here in the Salt Lake Valley actually. I live in the same house that my mom was raised in. Personally, I think that it's kind of cool :) Lots of history here. 
Who wouldn't love it here....It's so beautiful. 
4. Name 4 of your favorite foods:
Spaghetti, Pizza, Enchiladas, and Taco Soup (and cucumbers...but are only supposed to say 4....)
Here you will find all you need to know about food and me.
5. Name 4 things you always carry with you:
iPhone, Gem Wallet, hair tie, and a drink. I've almost always got something to drink with me. 

6. Name 4 places you have been on vacation:
California (all over...Disneyland, 29 Palms, San Francisco, and beyond), Italy, Northern Idaho (cooler than it sounds!) Oregon/Seattle (my favorite vacation so far and the reason I want to move to Seattle)
That's my stand in lil' brother, Chase on the Ferry in Seattle. He's in the 9th grade and is now like a foot taller than me...
Who doesn't love Disneyland? Crazies. That's who.



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The Coolest Aunt That Ever Lived

Being at work on a Saturday is really annoying.  I already work every Firday, Sunday, and Monday. so when I work Saturday, I basically don't get a weekend.  Luckily, I get off at 3:30 and I still have quite a bit of day left, but still...I'm annoyed to be here.

I took the liberty of dressing down. No one should have to be up at 06 on a Saturday. Luckily, because there are no trainees, I mostly just get to blog and play on Follow Me on Pinterest all day between calls...winning!

Lately, I haven't been doing quite as much blogging.  I've been very busy watching Grey's Anatomy (again) and not cleaning my room...I simply haven't had the time.

But now, I am making the time!

For those of you who don't know, I'm going to be an Auntie! I am sooo excited! Auntie Katie...Such a great ring to it! Unfortunately, though, I'm going to miss the birth of lil' Kallie...I will be about to graduate form basic training right around her due date.  It also means that I'll be missing the first several months of her life. I'm not super excited about that fact, but I am planning a bomb freakin dot com baby shower!

I would like to enlist the help of you lovely ladies that read my bloggy.

I want this baby shower to be awesome. I was on Pinterest (Holy moly guys...Follow Me on Pinterest!) all day yesterday looking for some cute ideas.






Yes, I'm aware one of those says boy...but that table is cute!

For food, I was thinking some stuff like this:
Source: tidymom.net via Katie on Pinterest

I love little finger foods, dips, veggies, that sort of stuff so I thought that would be a good idea. I figured that all the regular food would have no particular theme and all the desserts  or treats will be baby-ness and pink. Or something like that.  I have plenty of time to plan, but because I'm going to miss out on so much while I'm gone, I want this to be...well the best baby shower in the history of baby showers.  I want to be thought of as the greatest aunt that ever lived...
But I'm not going to be able to do it alone! Being at the fresh young age of 19, I have been to very few baby showers, and to be completely honest, they haven't been the most fun parties in the world...Of course, I was quite a bit younger, so I didn't get why everyone was fussing over the pregnant belly...

So. If you are a mommy who has had a baby shower, a sister or a friend who has thrown one, or attended a baby shower (or all three or whatever), I want your input! 

If you have some great ideas, please, please, please, share them with me!
Favorite baby shower games?
Favorite baby shower foods?
What annoys you about baby showers?
What should every baby shower have?
I want to know :) You can leave me a comment, Tweet @ me, e-mail me (knay93@gmail.com)
or...not. but I would love it if you did!

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Semper Stylish [Week 3]

Semper Wifey

 


Hosted by:
Semper Wifey 

Welcome to the Semper Stylish link-up!
Just link up your style or fashion related post here and leave some comment love on other participants' posts!

It would also be super nice if you follow both hosts and grab a Semper Sylish button!

Okay, now onto the good stuff!

All my life, I have been a strictly tee-shirt and jeans type of girl.
My sister said just the other day, "Since when does Katie care about fashion?" I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but it's fairly recent. I just...really like to put together outfits that works.  

Today is all about details.  
I took a dress that basically had nothing special going on and made it a cute outfit with a few small details. 
In this case, red high heels, thin red belt, a ring, a bow, and of course, red lipstick!


Lately, I've been working really hard to look my best on a daily basis. For some reason, my day just seems to go better when I'm dressed to the nines. 

I have been documenting all my outfits just so I can remember how cute I was when I get out of my ACUs and back into real-life clothes.
The jacket in the middle? That was only $35 at JCPenny...How could I say no?!
Apparently, my favorite mirror-picture pose is hand on the hip...

How do you tie an outfit together? What are you favorite accessories? Are you rocking an awesome "outfit of the day"? Take a picture and Instagram or Tweet it with #SemperStylish and share! Join in on our link up! You know you want to!

 



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In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Initially, I created a vlog post for this, but I just couldn't get it right, so I decided to stick with my strengths and just write like usual.

Every Thanksgiving, I take a little bit of time to show my gratitude for all of the wonderful blessing that I have in my life. Objects, people, opportunity, and so on and so forth.  The following will be more or less a list of things and people. I mention you by name, so if you're just feeling like reading what I have to say about you, the things I am thankful for will be in bold type :) It won't be hard to find yourself!

There are many things in this world that I have to be thankful for. First and foremost, I feel that I should give thanks for my amazing family. 
Family, You have all be so very patient with me. I have had a very rough year and a half or so and every one of you have done nothing but be supportive. I have made a lot of life changing decisions that affect more than just me and it means the world to me that you have been here through thick and thin to help me to succeed in all of my overly ambitious endeavors. 

Responsibility.  I am so thankful for all of the responsibility I have as of late. It is teaching me how to be a grown up. It has taught me that if I'm not looking out for myself, no one else is. Of course, there are people around that will be supportive of me, but they do not hold my fate in their hands. I do. I am so thankful for that. 

Technology and communication. I cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am for modern technology. Without it, I wouldn't have healed as I should have. I wouldn't have been able to keep up a wonderful and emotional long distance relationship. I wouldn't be able to hear my best friend's voice or see his face...It is a great think that I take for granted. I will so appreciate it after I write letters for 3 months...

Bloggy World.  This blog has seriously been such a fantastic blessing in my life. Like I said earlier, I have had a hell of a year and half or so. I have been able to put down everyone of my thoughts here, and I have been met with such support. From strangers, no less. Honestly, having this blog to talk to has enriched my life in ways that I don't even fully understand just yet. 

My Job & The Military. I love my job. I love that I have a job in a place where jobs are so scarce for some. I am so grateful for all the skills I have learned, the friends I have made, and the experience I have gained. 
The military...oh my. Something I never thought I would ever get to be part of, I am going to get to experience. I can't simply describe to you what that means to me and how thankful I am for this chance to live my dream. 

Friends:
in no particular order :)

Will, I don't think you know this, but you have the ability to brighten my day. When you were deployed and I got the chance to talk to you, it made me so happy that I was in a good mood for the rest of the week. Although we have had our ups and downs, I feel like I can always count on you. You will always be honest with me, support me, yell at me, and make up with me when we fight.  I am exponentially thankful for your friendship and I hope that it means half as much to you as it does to me. 

[I feel very sad that I couldn't find a single photo of my bestie and me together]

Christian, I barely know you. Some could argue that I don't know you at all. But it doesn't feel that way. I feel like I've known you all my life. Although when we first started talking, you had zero obligation to me, you let me rant and be annoying. You probably think that I'm totally insane, but having you to talk to had a really positive effect on me that you probably cannot understand.  I hope that one day, we can actually hang out. Talk in person at least! Be real friends, not just the texty kind. 

Kelsey, you and I could be apart for any large amount of time and pick up a conversation like we never stopped talking. I know that I can always lean on you for support and that you will never leave me. I am very thankful for you and for our friendship. I believe it's the lasting kind that won't waver despite distance or time weighing on it. 
J...I can probably just call ya by your name on here now, but you're just...J in my bloggy so that's how you'll stay I guess. I'll keep it brief here, but I am very thankful for you. I am thankful for you and for your family and for all of the awesome adventures that we got to have together. I still think about you every day and it's getting easier to think of you. Instead of being upset, I can just...remember and be okay. I hope that you, too, are thankful for me and for what we had...

Day Family, I don't know how to say how thankful I am for you all. I have never felt so at home in someone else's house as I do in yours. I have learned so much from you all. I built lasting relationships that I know will never disappear completely. I know that if I ever needed anything, I could turn to any one of you and get the help that I need. I love you and I hope that I never have to live without you all as at least a small part of my life. 

And all of my wonderful friends new and old in general! I have some of the most fantastic people in my life...Without you all, I would not be this person that I'm growing into. And oddly enough, I'm actually starting to like that person. It has been a long time since I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. You all have played a large role in that change. I love you guys and I hope that I have a continued friendship with everyone that is currently a part of my life. 

This past year or so has been...difficult. I have faced so many trials and have been forced to deal with many things that I didn't want to. I have been broken in many ways. I have been hurt and damaged. I have made detrimental decisions. I have made smart and great choices. I have left behind a few things and picked up some new ones...I am thankful for this life that I live. It's not perfect. In fact, it's so far from perfect, one might call it a little dysfunctional, but I don't care. I am thankful for it, not regardless or the bad, but including it. Without it, I wouldn't be me. I wouldn't be Katie. 

And Katie is just not such a bad person to be...
What are you thankful for?




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