Because I'm 20

Because I'm 20...

I got my first car loan and bought a car like it was a box of chocolates.

I roll the windows down instead of using the A/C and rock out to U92. Where Hip Hop Lives...

I'm dying to go to a completely insane party, dance in a club for hours, or something of the like.

I wanna sip from my cup until it runneth over...

I am constantly conflicted by the life I feel that I should lead and the one that I want to lead.

I have an awful (or wonderful, depending on how you look at it...) case of wander-lust.

I got a tattoo...and now I want like 15 more.

My life is constantly changing, and I'm starting to like that about it.

I can eat whatever I want and it doesn't affect what my body looks like.

I have enough energy to hit the gym twice a day. 

I can rebuild burned bridges.

and I can blog all day every day about whatever the hell I want. Because I am 20.. 

Let's start this weekend off right with #backthatazzup Friday.

Head over to Whitney's blog to learn about it! Hope you enjoy my jams!l

The Facts of Me

When I saw this on Whitney's blog, I honestly could not resist. 

As bloggers, we think that everyone wants to know all about out. And can you blame us? We write about ourselves and our day to day life, you all leave comments, like our links, tweet @ us, and you reinforce the narcissism.  

So hold on to your keyboards friends, you're about to learn "The Facts of Me".

I love baseball caps, but I can't wear them the right way for very long. I always end up flipping them backwards.  Something I seem to have passed onto my lil' sissy.

When I sit at the dinner table I put my feet up on my chair. It makes my mother crazy, but I do it every time...

I read the TV guide menu deal in one glace and get annoyed when others don't. 

And while I'm talking about TV, I don't like commercials, but I really hate it when people flip back and forth between two shows. You always miss parts of both. Just watch the damn commercial!

I have a secret dream to be in a band like the Dixie Chicks. Except better, bigger, and not liberal.  We've already got the makings right here!

I talk...a lot. Seriously, think of your most chatty friend and times that by two and you have me.

I hate pants.  When I walk into my house, my pants come off with my shoes. It's the reason that I wear dresses all the time, in fact.

I used to be afraid of ants. Then when I got old enough to realize that they're barely a centimeter long...I learned how to burn them with a magnifying glass. (I promise I'm not a serial killer...just a pyro...)

Although I work hard to look seem very confident, I am pretending most of the time but...I whole heartedly believe in this:

I love roller coasters. Like love them. I would ride the loopey one in California Adventure a zillion times in a row if I could. 

I am...obsessed with Harry Potter. Yep. I'm one of those people. 

I want to be a bar tender. That's not my lifelong dream, just something I need to do and cross off the list. 

I think I'm really funny. And sometimes, I think it really is true, but some people don't seem to appreciate it. 

I always want things that I can't have. 

My backyard is I-15 and the train tracks. I wrote A song about how much I hate living next to both. 

And last but not least, I want you to enter my giveaway! (nice segue right?!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It only runs until next week, so be sure to get your name in the ring! 

Fearless

 Today, I'm linking up with Peace Love Sequins and Messy. Dirty. Hair. to share with you my fearless fashions!

It has been a while since I've posted about fashion, and I have really been itching to, so I'm so excited about this new link up. I hope it's still going when I get back! 

This past...oh 3 months or so, I have really come out of my shell as far as fashion or style is concerned. 

After my ex-fiance and I broke up, I indulged in some serious retail therapy. You don't even want to know how much money I "threw away" on clothes. But really, it wasn't throwing money away at all, because my confidence was boosted by about 15 points and I started to actually feel good about myself. If you've ever gone through a really bad break up, you understand that you don't feel good about yourself at all. In fact, you feel bad. You feel like you aren't enough. Like you weren't pretty enough. Like you didn't call enough. You didn't do this right, you didn't do that right, you made too many mistakes. You aren't good enough. 

But there is just something about putting on that new pair of red high heels, running some red lipstick over your lips, and looking like you couldn't be happier to be free from that ol' ball and chain. No matter how much of a lie it is, you look damn good and you're proud of it. 

I guess that is one really good thing that came from getting dumped on my bum:

A fabulous wardrobe. 

That's not to say that I don't rock my jeans and t-shirts. My co-workers will tell you, I don't always look like I'm about to walk the cat walk...

So. With that being said, I tried a ton of things that I never would have before. 

One big thing I did, was start wearing colored tights.  I was so terrified to do this. I thought for sure that  I would look silly, but I really have grown to like them! They make it so that I can wear virtually any thing I want even though it's winter.  

I've also been adding socks to sort of, break the line a little bit and I'm totally in love with it. These are my favorite socks. I've got a thing with floral print...I always have, but, get this, I've been too scared to try it until now!

Another trend I was completely afraid of was lipstick. I'd worn it a little bit here and there, but every time I did, I felt all self conscious that someone was sitting in the break room judging me for it. Well, post break-up, I stopped giving a shit what random people though. Novel idea right? So, I started wearing all the lipstick that I wanted to!

This is the day of my ex-fiance's brother's wedding, where ex-fiance was in attendance. It was the first time I had seen him since we'd broken up, so it was hard to say the least, but let me tell you, I looked good. I wore the red high heels. The point is to make 'em watch you when you walk away. :)

I'm so excited to get back from basic, shed my camo and rock some new fashions that I just have to try. It's scary, but I know that it will be worth it. 

I haven't had a chance to take a picture of my "outfit of the day" today, but definitely keep an eye on IG to see todays...It's pretty bold. What can I say, this link up has inspired me!

EDIT:

Today's #ootd

Please excuse the dirty bathroom mirror...I'm embarrassed. :P

It's Thursday & It's Ok

Don't forget about the Origami Owl Giveaway I've got going!
Everyone loves free stuff and this jewelry is soo worth it!

Today, I'm linking up with Brunch With Amber and A Complete Waste of Make Up to tell ya'll that I'm dysfunctional and that is totally okay! 

It's OK...

...That I'm sleeping in my sister's old room because I'm avoiding a large mess in my own.

...To paint your nails three times a week because you scratch it off every other day.

...To watch Army Wives all day and avoid getting dressed.

...To blow your nose with toilet paper...A whole roll of it. Don't judge me.

...That there are only 25 days until my ship date! (EEEEK!)

...That my nose is as bright red as Rudolph's.

...To listen to the same song on repeat for hours to get pumped up.

...Then to just lay in bed because you're too sick to get your ass up and go to the gym. 

...To blog shamelessly about the fact that you can't/won't get up out of bed...

...that I hung out with my ex-fiance (whaaaa?) 

...That I'm almost certainly going to Boise State or UNLV is I get accepted... (Washington is kind of a pipe dream. I'm pretty sure it's going to be too expensive to go there alone, so I'm trying to think big picture.)

...That I still haven't finished either of those applications...I should probably get on that. And it's okay that I'm completely excited for that even though it's almost a year away...

And most of all, it's okay that I am who I am, I do what I do, and I keep my head held high. I definitely think that that is ok. 

What's okay with you, friends?

It Is So Ok

Hey there and happy Thursday! I love Thursdays because it means that tomorrow is Friday! Plus, I have the day off which is always very nice. 

Because I have the day off, I have lots of time to get down to bloggy business. Please check out my sponsor page to learn more about my FREE sponsor opportunity! I need some help keeping my blog alive while I'm in basic training and your sponsorships would be much appreciated!

Also, check out this awesome Giveaway going on at Shades of Gray and a Pinch of Pink

It has been a while since I have linked up with Amber and Neely for "It's Ok" Thursday, so even though I already posted for the Christmas swap today, I decided to throw down all the stuff that's going on that is simply...Okay :)

It's Ok...(I never spell okay just Ok...I think it's weird, but for now, I will.)

...that I bought Pitch Perfect on Tuesday and I've already watched it upwards of 5 times and I may or may not be watching it as I blog this...right now.

...that I'm dying to chop of all my hair, but I'm not doing it. This is all I could get myself to cut.

...that I woke up at 0530 on my day off for no apparent reason. 

...that I am a giving person who gives gifts to people who aren't really part of my life anymore.

...that I am so dang broke for Christmas, I can barely pay my bills.

And that I have been taking "early outs" at work  even though I can't afford it.

...that I have gone over 2 weeks without a soda and I'm loving it! 

And it's totally okay that I miss it like crazy.

...That I went I from a blog slacker to an over achiever in a day. 

...That I'm happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time.

...that I just quoted a Taylor Swift song. And that it epitomizes the way I feel these days. 

...that I'm going to party like a rock star this whole next week.

...that I put a picture of my toes on Instagram.

and now on my blog too.

...that it's 07 and it's still dark outside.

...that the Army seems to think we're stupid. My book is covered with pages like this:

And it's okay that there are 40 days until I leave for basic! 

Yep. All those things are most definitely okay. 

Now Go link up with Brunch With Amber or A Complete Waste Of Make Up to share with everyone what is Ok.

Secret Santa Swap

First of all, I sent a gift to Stephanie from Girl Meets Trail
I gave her a cute little nail kit that I made. I sent it in a plastic container, but it was supposed to be like this:

Source: silverstarkitchen.com via Katie on Pinterest

I was just terrified of it breaking...so it didn't end up as cute as I wanted, but apparently she loved it!

I also gave her a Christmas tumbler and a 550 cord bracelet I made. 

I am so excited that this day has finally come! I love that I get to share with you what I got from my Secret Santa!  I am so in love with everything that she gave me. I don't know who it is yet, but the hand writing is definitely female. So I say "she" with confidence.

When I got my present, I felt like the one I gave was kind of lame! I was like...man, I could have done better, but now I know for next time I do something like this!

My partner sent me a bunch of great stuff all the way from Alabama!

I got a candle, nail polish (I'm obsessed with painting my nails...so it was perfect) That adorable nutcracker, chocolate, chapstick, a necklace, an ornament and a lovely card.

My favorite of these gifts was probably the Nutcracker. It got a lovely spot up on my shelf the second that I opened it! It's awesome and it was just the perfect gift! I was so excited to put it up. It makes me feel very motivated and I definitely love everything that I got from my Secret Santa.

I am so glad that I linked up for this awesome swap!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Goal Oriented

Remember that giveaway I hosted last week? Well, I picked more than one winner! The First place winner received a discount to Nay's Custom Leather as well as a free custom leather bracelet. I decided to also pick two other winner to receive free custom leather bracelets as well. So! Congratulations to:

David 

Jane 

and

Wendy

You will be contacted soon with details on how to collect your prize!

Also, a similar giveaway is currently going on over at Life & Everything Else In Between.  Head over and check it out!

And now, onto the super awesome Monday link-up 

 I'm linking up with Jenn and Jessica for the 5 for Five. You make 5 goals then you report back on how they went and make 5 more goals the next week! 

1. Drink water instead of soda. 

I did soo well with this one! I drank tons of water.  Even better, I made a deal with my bestie that if he quit chewing tobacco I would quit drinking soda. Now, I'm not sure if he has kept up his end, but I sure have! I haven't had a soda in almost a week and it feels good!

2. Christmas shop. 

I didn't really shop per se, but I did purchase several gifts for quite a few people in my family. So I'm calling that one good!

3. Pre-write some posts for when I'm gone.

I didn't get to this...I haven't been feeling good or in the mood to type away at my computer, so I'm going to work on this one for the rest of the month. 

4. Cook dinner for my family every night. 

I didn't really rock this, but I did cook for a couple of nights. It was nice too. Everything tasted great. I made taco soup, and I braved a lasagna for the first time. It turned out tasting really good.

5. Go to the gym every day.

I didn't go every day, but I went enough. I worked really hard and I didn't feel well so it didn't seem like a good idea to over do it.

This weeks goals!

1. Adress all the baby shower invites. 

I have to collect a zillion of the addresses from online and put them on envelopes. I also have to create the invites, and possibly buy more of them..

2. Get my hair done and fix the ugly that are my nails. 

I literally just barely made an appointment to get my hair done. So that is basically a sure thing!

3. Do yoga...I really need to try and get some positive energy into my soul, I think that yoga might help to...center me a little bit.

4. Send out Christmas cards with personal notes in each. 

5. Wash face morning at night. You would think that this would be easy, but the simplest things get left in the dust if you don't pay attention to them. 

Alright. And there you have it! Hopefully I will do a little better with my goals this week!

5 for Five [2]

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Click here to win a free custom made braceles and a lovely discount to Nay's Custom Leather!

Today, I'm linking up with Jenn from Party of One and Jessica from Fantastically Average and I'm sharing my goals for this week!

The idea behind this link is that you make 5 goals, you work on them during the week and you report back the next Monday and make 5 more goals to work on. Last week was my first time linking up! So I was excited to report back today!

Here is how last week went:

1. Write a complete shopping list for Christmas. Include each family member and 2-3 ideas for what to get them.  This is blue because I have compelted this goal. I nailed down several things that I'm getting for my family members and I'm acutally buying a large portion of them today! So This one was pretty close to getting all finished!

2. Write a list of things I want for Christmas. I definitely failed at this. I didn't even get to it. And it's something that I really have to do...like bad, so hopefully I will just tack this onto my list of five goals for next week...

3. Plan my sister's baby shower! (This is not just an excuse to sit on Pinterest for hours after work, I swear it...) So the shower isn't entirely planned, but I have send out thigns to get addresses on FB and I've got some really great ideas for food and games, and all I have to do is put it together when the time comes, so I'm calling this goal accomplished!

4. Clean my room. I had a feeling this wouldn't get done...but I really need to do it tonight. Like I have to...I cannot put it off any longer!

5. Orgaize all things bloggy I definitely accomplished this. I am on top of this post, I know where all my sponsorship ads are, and I no longer feel overwhelmed by my blog!

Overall, last week was okay, but I definitely could have done better. I think I need to focus a little harder on accomplishing all of my short term goals. My life will be a lot easier if I think in the realm of a week instead of a year!

This week, I thought long and hard about what my goals would be. I'm not including "Clean my room." That better just happen!

1. Drink water instead of soda. My skin is really taking a turn for the worst and I am running out of ideas (If you have some awesome product or tricks, I'd love to hear them! I'm desperate!) so I decided to try and change my diet a little and see if that helps. I'm starting with my biggest weakness...

Look at that! I'm even starting right now!

2. Christmas shop. This will be an easy one. I just need to be sure I get around to it!

3. Pre-write some posts for when I'm gone. I am going to do my best to keep up my bloggy while I'm gone. I won' tbe able to post on my own, so I'm going to write a few scheduled posts and also get some guest posts (If you're interested please let me know!)

4. Cook dinner for my family every night. I'm not going to be around much longer and I want to contribute as much as I can before I go. I really like to cook and I think this is a good way to be sure that my family sits down and eats together. Tonight, I'm making my new favorite: taco soup!

5. Go to the gym every day. I used to do this without it having to be a goal...I'd really like to get back to that.

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!

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. 

source

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.

Semper Stylish [Week 3]

 

<center> <a href="http://semperwifey.blogspot.com/2012/10/announcing-semper-stylish-link-up.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Semper Wifey" src=" http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m531/semperwifey/SemperStylishButton.jpg" height="200" width="200"/></a></center>

Hosted by:
 

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!

 

Semper Stylish!

I am so excited for this awesome link up hosted by Semper Wifey!

She started this link up because she's not into brands or fashion necessarily, but she loves style. It's all about the way you work with what you've got! Which, to me, is so great. I don't have all the money in the world to spend on clothes.  You won't see me sporting any single clothing item over $30, but somehow, I find a way to make what I have look good on my body.

What are you wearing today? How do you make what you've got in your clothes look like you just stepped out of your  cloest?

This is what I've got on today. 

I pretty much wear those lil' boots with every outfit, but it just seems to work. So I have no shame.

Although, it wouldn't hurt to clean that bathroom mirror huh?

In the car, I put on some lipstick to dress up my Plain Jane look today.

Plus, I threw on this rain coat I bought for $7.99 at Savers.

Ya like? My favorite thing about this outfit, is that it's all pieces I have never thought to put together before. This morning, I needed something that worked for the weather out side, and this was it. This was not the outfit I had planned originally, but it was snowing outside a few minutes after I woke up, so I opted not to wear a dress today.

Personally, I think that style is so much more than just what you put on your body, but wearing it with confidence.  I always feel great about what I'm wearing when I hold my head high and I rock my read lip stick like I don't care what anyone thinks of me. Now that is style, if you ask me. 

What's your style like and how do you define it?

You can keep up with me in many ways! Don't forget to "Like" me on Facebook, Follow on Twitter and Instagram (@camocolored), or subscribe to my RSS feed!