New pieces

I've added some things to my Etsy shop, Art Speaks! I'm really into making these yarn wall hangings and I can customize it to the size and colors you would like as well. Reach out to me with any questions and please share this with your friends! :)

Yarn wall hanging - $10

Mixed media canvas - $12

Yarn wall hanging - $12

Happy Wednesday!

Where's the day go?

I haven't really sat down to blog in a while... or journal or make art for fun or do a lot of things that make me feel good and are productive. You all feel like there aren't enough hours in the day either, right? I know some people that can read a whole book in a day, be caught up in all the latest shows, have a full time job, and go out with friends - and I'm like how?!

Anyway, I wanted to say that. Here are some things I've come across on Tumblr that I've really liked that have nothing to do with that thought I just shared:













Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Read this!

A friend recently tagged me on a photo that had this caption because she knows I forget these words a lot, so I thought I'd pass it along to you as well:

"Here’s why I tell you: Even if you’re not married, you may be feeling like your life needs to operate according to a certain expected timeline. Maybe Great Aunt Beatrice asks you E V E R Y Thanksgiving if you’ve met a nice guy yet. Or maybe your step dad is always asking when you’re going to give up the dream and get a real job. Or maybe it’s something else. ⁣⁣⁣

Can I just remind you there are treasures in this season — even if your season totally doesn’t measure up to yours or society’s timeline? I want you to get this through your noggin (even if Great Aunt Bea hasn’t quite embraced it): this season is enough for you. ⁣⁣⁣

The sun comes up every day to shine on your pretty little face and light up your life and there’s purpose and beauty and joy NOW. The past is over and the future isn’t guaranteed. What if you just decided right now, today, that today is enough—and that even if it’s totally imperfect it’s still really stinking beautiful and designed intentionally and specially for YOU right here, now. ⁣⁣⁣

Don’t miss this sister. Live for today. It’s all we’ve got."

-Jordan Lee Dooley, on Instagram

Currently

First of all, sorry I do these so often - I feel like they're the easiest way to update you on my life! I'll keep the answers for each of these short this time though.

Loving: FALL! You already know that. I just got a part time job at TJ Maxx to help me save more and if they schedule me to work Halloween night I will throw a tantrum.

Watching: The Great British Baking Show on Netflix - I binged the last 3 seasons in like 1 week HAH. It's given me some great ideas for baking though. Also did you guys watch Shane Dawson's series The Mind of Jake Paul? I'm without words, it was SO good. Do you know what? I've always been a Jake Pauler and I was always a little embarrassed by it, but you go watch the series and tell me you're not a Jake Pauler!

Reading: I'm re-reading The Art of Happiness by Dr. Howard Cutler and The Dalai Lama - It's a book that got me through my sophomore year of college and it just reminds me what to focus on in life.

Listening:

SAD! by XXXTENTACION

2009 by Mac Miller

Happiness by Rex Orange County (SO GOOD)

Uproar by Lil Wayne

Sunflower - Allie X (synth reprise from Sierra Burgess is a Loser)
...and, honestly, a lot more songs.

Looking forward to: Right now my plan is to leave to teach English abroad next Summer. I have to wait because my best friend asked me to be her maid of honor and her wedding is next Summer haha! I'm a little stressed about saving enough money but I'm really excited. I've been thinking about the feeling I had before I interned abroad junior year and I'm getting that same feeling now. It's nice to have something to look forward to again, rather than just working a 9-5 while I'm so young.

Thinking about: Going along with that ^ I'm just kind of in a rut right now. I find myself with a lack of motivation and I feel like it's because all I'm doing right now is working part time. I miss the days in college when I was crazy busy and had the longest days. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy down time, but I really love constantly having things to do and I don't have that now and haven't had that for months. I kind of feel like I've wasted my time and I feel like living at home is part of the problem... but I'm trying to save money so this is the best option. Going from living in Boston to living in the middle of nowhere has been a struggle and I'm oddly missing college.

What's currently going on with you?

Post idea came from Sometimes Sweet and the photo is from my Tumblr.

Fall

Wow, I just love Fall. I love everything about it. The leaves, the temperature, the activities, the movies, the baking, the colors. I could go on and on.

What's your favorite season?

All photos from Autumn Leaves, Winter Breeze

Stupid videos

In my currently post that I wrote a few weeks ago, I said how I've been watching YouTube videos recently. It's weird for me! I used to watch them here and there, but I didn't really realize how many good stuff was on YouTube.

I thought in this post I'd show you some of the "stupid humor" videos I've been loving lately. Honestly, that's my favorite kind of humor. I'll admit that sometimes I do feel like I'm losing brain cells when I watch them though. Especially because they're 10-20 minutes long!

Corey Scherer - Fam 5 picking up girls

Jake Paul - Mini Jerika's first date

(I used to hate Jake Paul, but now I don't mind him. Sue me!)

Jake Webber - Party in Sam's room

Dolan Twins - Doing things for the first time

Emma Chamberlain - How to have fun on Valentine's Day for single people

Do you watch a lot of "stupid" videos? Share them with me!

In the next YouTube post I do, I'll show you actual quality videos/channels ;)

PS HAPPY OCTOBER! If you know me, you know it's my favorite month. Yay!

My tattoos

I only have 3 tattoos, but a little while ago I did a post about my piercings and I thought I'd do something similar. I can't stop thinking about getting another more, but I need to save money. I know what I want my future tattoos to be, but I don't want them done by a random artist that's near me. I want to really plan out a place and get them done by artists I really look up to, even if that means waiting longer and traveling a bit for them.

The first tattoo I got was when I was 18 right before I left for college. I saw these words on Tumblr one random day and just had an overwhelming feeling that I needed them on my wrist, so a few days later I went with a friend, tweaked the font a bit, and got it done.

The second one I got is actually kind of a funny story. I was on Spring break in Mykonos, Greece while studying abroad and the island was dead since it was the off season. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time ATVing around the island and laying on the empty beaches. But one day we were really running out of ideas, so we passed a tattoo shop and my friend dared me to get one to pass the time, so I was like you know what? Okay. We got lunch so I could think of what I wanted, and and hour later we went inside. It was really nice because the artists were bored as well, so we hung out with them, got to know them, and they were really helpful when it came to picking a style for the tattoo. They wouldn't even accept a tip, no matter how hard I tried. They said a tip would be to return to Greece one day, which I fully intend on doing! I got this just because I thought it would be a simple homage to my study abroad experience.

Finally, my last and biggest one I got on a trip to Toronto. This is a long story, but I'll try to condense it. Basically, there's a tattoo shop up there that I've always wanted to go to called Chronic Ink and I went in to make an appointment for this Summer. It was all set, but as we were about to head out they stopped me and said they had a last minute cancellation for one of their really popular artists who does the style I was looking for and I could either get it done today by him or wait until July for someone else. Impulsively I chose to get it done that day, but he had to use one of his flash pieces instead of drawing me a custom one. It all happened so fast and I wasn't able to drive my friend to the airport like I was originally planning to, so that was a bummer. But I love the tattoo and it was really cool to get it done by a really well known artist up there! His name is Sebastian Camargo and he just opened his bookings back up, so check him out if you're looking to get something done! Right after I got it done, I had to drive 7 hours back to PA in a snow storm and the whole shop was really accommodating for me. Even if you don't go to Sebastian, definitely check out the shop, it's full of really awesome people.

How many tattoos do you have? Were any of them impulsive? Do you regret any?

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Wes Anderson

Photos from here.

Noah Centineo

**

Okay I know I just posted about Noah Centineo in my Link Love post, but I found these pictures and I had to share them. This boy is literally too good to be true - have you seen the videos about him? He's perfect! Such a great actor too.

It's funny because the YouTuber I really love, Emma Chamberlain, gets her pictures taken all the time by Bryant and he's also the one that took these photos. It all comes full circle! Also shoutout to Emma. She just started making videos for fun last year and now she's living in LA hanging out with boys like this ^

Link Love

Via

I'm one of those people that dreams of Fall all year round... I mean look at these pictures and tell me you're not excited.

Speaking of Fall, I love big, oversized sweaters like this one.

Have you heard of Emma Chamberlain? She's a YouTuber and SO funny. Watch this video of hers.

I made these scones the other day and they were really good!

Look how cute this bedroom is!

My tattoo artist, Sebastian Camargo, finished this back piece on one of his clients a few weeks ago and I'm swooning.

Also, have you watched the movie Everything, Everything? Oh MAN it's so good. I should have read the book first, but the movie was 10/10.

This quote has been on my mind.

I'm sure you've all heard/seen Noah Centineo by now. Swooooon!

Speaking of Emma Chamberlain, I've been making her coffee recipe and I highly recommend it. Yum!

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

9.11

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**

17 years.

Rabbit in the meadow

**

These photos by Emily at The Silence Crept Over Me are so delicate and beautiful. She takes most of these in Western Massachusetts, which has a special place in my heart. All of her photography is stunning - check out more of her stuff and support her!

Mac Miller

I hate that I'm posting about another death. Can you believe Mac Miller died? I was obsessed with him in high school and my love grew ever since. He was so talented and his music was getting more mature as the years went on.

I learned so much about drug addiction during my senior internship. It's such a disease. I'm so sick of people saying "these kids should learn" or "their life was so good, why would they ruin it with drugs?" I encourage all of you to watch 6 Balloons on Netflix - it portrays addiction really well and can really teach people something.

PA as well of the rest of the world misses you, Mac!

"Live forever then you never feel the need to die

This is a letter, open it to set you free

Remember love and remember me

Dear people on Earth after I die

What's the weather like?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

And I ain't perfect but I try

Hey, I wonder if I'll maybe get a second life

This time imma get it right"

1 Threw 8

Goals

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Mood, amiright?

Dreaming

**

I found this photo on the Tumblr Grace Upon Grace and I love it so much. Doesn't it just make you feel good? I want to have a dinner party just like this.

How are you all doing on this Thursday? It's the first day off I've had in a while and it feels so good to get things done that I haven't had time to do.

Zombie Boy

I just heard about Rick Genest's death and I'm so sad about it. When he was young, he had a brain tumor and was told he would have to get surgery that would disfigure him for life. Later, he found out that he could get a laser procedure done and he was one of only 2 people in North America to survive that procedure.

He died yesterday by suicide, which devastates me. 

He loved when people stared at him and he said he accomplished his goal of becoming a "freak." I've always been so inspired by his creativity and spirit. In my past tattoo posts, I talk about him a lot and he definitely influenced to be more myself.

Altar of the Fatherland

**

I've probably posted this picture before, but it's one that I took of the Altare della Patria in Rome, Italy. It's my favorite building and I would say this is my favorite photo that I took! It's the background on my computer right now, and I thought I would share it here too.

How are you doing today? This week my friend is going on vacation, so I'm subbing as nanny for her and get to hang out with the kids she usually watches. Yay, money! I forgot what it looked like for a bit there.

Currently

I thought I'd put together one of these goodies - maybe it's the quickest way to get you up to date on my life?!

Loving: These rainy days! Like I said before, it's been raining cats and dogs here. I love it though. Rainy days are my favorite days. Even though I suck at driving in the rain, I'll take it any day. The sound, the darkness, the comfort. I love it so much.

Watching: I'm not a YouTube person, BUT I found Colby Brock and started watching his videos and then I started watching all of his roommates videos and then it turned into an addiction. They're so funny to me! But I also just binged Queer Eye and season 16 of Project Runway. Oh! And The Bachelorette and Jersey Shore Family Vacation! My interests in shows are diverse.

Reading: Right now I'm reading An Abundance of Katherine's by John Green because I actually haven't read that one before! So far so good, but I'm a fan of John Green, so..

Listening: So. Much. Let's see...

Visions of Gideon by Sufjan Stevens

I Feel Like I'm Drowning and Go Fuck Yourself by Two Feet

We Find Love by Daniel Caesar

Apeshit by The Carters

Stay by Post Malone

Honestly a ton more, but that's just a taste of what's been n repeat for me lately.

Eating: I've been trying to eat healthy (again)! So I thought I'd post what I like to eat. In the morning, I like a runny egg on avocado toast and maybe oatmeal with Nutella. I used to not like runny eggs, but now I do! I like to make a butt-load of chicken in the beginning of the week and live off of it for the rest of the week. So I'll make a salad or homemade chicken salad with it. My favorite thing to have with it is dried cranberries though, is that weird?

Thinking about: NYC! If you read my last post you know about this one, so I won't go on about it too much. I'm just really hoping something works out so I can move there really soon.

Looking forward to: Not going back to school in the Fall! It's actually super weird. Part of me is pretty sad to be honest. I really dislike PA, so having to stay here until I choose to move is a little daunting. However, I will not miss the papers that I bullshit and the exams I felt confident about but failed miserably :)

As always, the picture is from my Tumblr and the post idea is from Dani at Sometimes Sweet. What are you currently up to? Send me your links - I'd love to read!

Hello again! I made an Etsy shop!

Hey homies! Long time, no see! A lot has happened since I last posted - I graduated college and moved back home to PA. It's been a roller coaster. I really miss Boston, but all of my days are spent applying for jobs in my dream spot: NYC! If you've been with me for a while you know how big my love for the city is and remember these oldie-but-goodie posts:

About college

Ciao, America!

NYC family room

(they're all posts about my goal of living in NYC)

My goal has been New York for about 10 years now and that's what I'm going to do. We'll see where life leads me, and if it isn't NYC at first, then so be it. However, I'm determined to get there ASAP. Right now I'm currently trying to save to just move there so I can work a part time job while I search for a full time. I really don't need much, but I'm unemployed right now, and that post-grad bank account isn't looking so hot.

This brings me to my next point: I made an Etsy shop! After much peer pressure, I did it. I added some clay items I've made over the years that are looking for a happy home. I'm about to add some collage pieces I made recently and hopefully some knitted items in the near future. I really hope you check it out and share it if you can! I know how pricey art can be, so I tried to make them as reasonable as possible (about $15-$20 each!).

I named it Art Speaks because, in art therapy, art speaks when words don't. Art has an incredible way of creating community and inclusivity, and if people don't buy anything from my shop, I hope they get the urge to create something themselves because art does heal.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtSpeaksByKatie

Here are some sneak peeks of pieces in the shop so far:

I hope you're all doing so well! I hope to post on here again, but I'm so focused on NYC and other things that my mind isn't on the blog quite yet. I really do love posting on here and I never hope to end blogging. I just need to get a burst of creativity and comfort in where and who I am, and then I'll be back at it again - I promise! Blogging, as well as many other things, is such a source of therapy for me and I'm happy I have this space.

Happy really late Tuesday, really early Wednesday, loves! Is it raining where you are? It's rained in PA non stop for the past 5 days!

Almost there

Hey everyone! How's life? I wanted to pop in and share some of my thoughts and emotions as I approach the end of my time as an undergrad.

^this is a photo from my internship the other day - one of the other interns brought her dog, Kira, in!

I graduate in a month and 2 days... crazy. I've always hated school. Really hated it. College was hard and I wasn't happy in the beginning, which is why I transferred with a friend to a new school that I loved, just to have that friend drop out and not tell me until the day of move in junior year. There were a lot of ups (doing one of my 180 hours internships in Rome) and a lot of downs (pretty much all of freshman year). I have been counting down to graduation since the day I started college and now that it's quickly approaching, I'm sad.

I don't want to leave this school! I don't want to go out and get a job and work every day! I don't want to live in PA even though I have to to save money for a bit! I want to stay in this moment, right now, forever. I've finally made new friends, I finally know Boston like the back of my hand, I finally am doing an internship and taking classes that I absolutely love, and now I have to leave?

I'm stressed about finals and everything that comes with the end of the school year, as well as what I'll be doing after graduation because I still don't know. I want to have an answer just because I'm tired of being asked and saying "I don't know."

I'm hoping I can take each day and live in it. Wake up early, do as much as I can in a day, and take care of myself. These days seem to go by faster and faster and I just want to make sure I'm not wasting a second.

Apartamento di Roma

Look how cute this Rome Airbnb is that I cam across! I can't get over it. This is my dream apartment in my favorite city. Swoon!

Check out more of it here!

5 ways to detox

And I don't mean a juice cleanse (necessarily). Sometimes we just need to start fresh or completely re charge. I think it's super important to take time to do it in one way or another every now and then. Check out these ideas!

1. Social media cleanse/hiatus

I haven't done a hiatus yet, but I really want to. Just take 2 weeks with no social media - deactivate, log out, turn off notifications, whatever. Just step away! These things, while beneficial, can be really toxic to us and we don't even notice! If you don't want to step away, maybe just do a cleanse - go through your social media and delete people, accounts, and anything else that you don't care about anymore or just don't want to see. It'll make a world of difference!

2. Donate clothes/things

This one is pretty straight forward. Go through your closet, your drawers, even the stuff hanging on your wall and get rid of it! Minimize and simplify your life. I always keep things thinking one day I'll want it or will wear it and guess what... I don't! Get rid of it!

3. Sweat and eat clean

Sometimes detoxing does mean your body. Get moving, eat foods that give you energy and don't make you break out, think about health. I've been going to the gym 5 days a week, going to Bikram yoga once every 2 weeks to sweat out my stress, and eating much healthier than I used to. No more sweets! I do miss them, but I know my body is doing much better without them.

4. Move on

Something on your mind? Move past it. Don't let toxic thoughts linger in your mind. It's over! Create art, go on a walk, read a book, start a new show, teach yourself a language, clean your room, move on! You do you!

5. Practice self care

This kind of combines everything above. This one is just kind of about taking time for yourself and doing what you enjoy in the midst of the stress and busyness of life. Take a bath, put on a face mask, watch a movie, do your nails, take time for you and only you.



Photos in this post by Alex Mazurov, on Flickr.

How do you detox? Have any of these tips helped you in the past?

Have a great day! Today I'm getting some homework done. I went out for a walk earlier and stopped to get some juice from Pressed Juicery - everyone I bumped into was SO friendly today! It was so refreshing. The lady at the Juicery (also named Katie!) was so helpful, someone stopped to ask me for directions and her and I talked for a bit, and a homeless man gave me a reminder to smile to which I thanked him for. So, smile today! Pass on the kindness!

Inspo

Do you ever get in those moods? You find inspiration in the weirdest things? I have just been getting back into Tumblr because I really find beautiful pictures and ideas in the corners of people's blogs. I've also been following some talented people on Instagram that inspire me. Here are some pictures that hopefully give you a little inspo too:

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