the christmas rush

I just want to say that we haven't gotten a good snow yet and I'm starting to freak out. If I don't get my white Christmas, so help me God...hehe ;)

I can't believe Christmas is tomorrow! My brother, Conner, started college in Florida last year, and it doesn't truly feel like Christmas until he gets home, since we usually save all the festivities for him. We're always packing in the tradition until the last minute. 

I think we tend to get lost in the to do lists that the season brings; cooking, wrapping, decorating, shopping. Even things like watching festive movies become rote. I'm the kind of person that wants to maximize the "fun" but it always ends up being at the expense of the true virtues of the season. I have to watch myself and make sure that I savor each moment instead of rushing through Advent.

We picked up Conner from the airport (after a six hour delay) on Friday, which was mom's last day of school until the new year. Saturday was a girl's shopping day, and coincidentally, the busiest shopping day of the year. I had a ton of shopping to do since I decided to make all of my gifts this year, and I hadn't purchased any supplies yet. We also watched the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol and decorated the little gingerbread village. Conner decorated his to be like the Tardis :) Sunday was the guy shopping day, and the girls started on the Christmas cookies and cleaning, since we're hosting Christmas dinner this year. I finished making three of the five gifts I had planned. Crafting is really tiring!

Monday we went with my grandma to visit my grandfather's headstone at the cemetery. This is one of my favorite traditions because it reminds me that in the end, all the food, gifts and decorations can't come with you. It puts everything in perspective and reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. Then grandma took mom out to lunch so that I could snap a few pictures of me and the siblings. I'm going to frame the picture and give it to mom and dad (and give one to grandma as a thank you, but shh, it's a surprise!!) I finished all my gifts, and wrapped them too. Conner and I went to a friend's house for a little Christmas party. I'm excited to see people, since I've been out of school since December 12th.

There is still a lot to do,but I'm making sure that I cherish the little things, especially my time with Conner. He goes back in a few weeks so I want to make sure I spend every moment possible with him. I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear that :P

xoxo,

some sunday thoughts

For more pictures, pop on over to my Instagram

• Last night was my last Advent concert as a student at St. Augustine's. It's crazy to think that I will never again get to stand up in the front of the church with my high school friends and sing a bunch of crazy latin Christmas songs, but it's also kind of sweet since my friends and I get to move on to greater adventures. 

•I am in love with my new Christmas socks. Nuff said. 

•I have recently discovered the wonders of adoration...I've been wanting to pick up an hour for a few months now, but the only times available are in the early mornings during the school week. I tagged along with my dad Friday night and it was so peaceful...I definitely recommend.

•Smiley face pancakes can make even the worst Monday morning a bit better.

•My favorite song recently is My Girl by The Temptations. My dad grew up in the Motown era, so naturally I grew up listening to these guys. You can watch them sing and dance here. It's an oldie but goodie :)

•So I went a little hog wild at Target yesterday. Four sweaters, a matching hat and mittens set, five pairs of socks,  and a little black kimono thing later...

•As of Friday, I am officially on Christmas break! I can't believe that senior year is half over; Time flies when you're having fun I guess. Just thinking about graduation is stressful, crazy, exciting and scary all at the same time. 

•I'm leaving for Pennsylvania on Tuesday to visit my grandparents. They live in the woods and eat lots of chicken pot pies and watch Jeopardy, so it should be good clean fun :) 

•I was reunited with an old friend last night, and it was wonderful. 

•I've decided to make all of my Christmas gifts this year...time to put all those Pintrest tutorials to good use!

•Disney channel is playing the Christmas episodes of all their old shows. I'm in heaven. 

Have a good rest of your Sunday!

xoxo, 

fashion: first snowfall

                                                                                It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

 Top: J Jill // Pants: Target // Shoes: Sam & Libby for Target // Earrings: Forever 21 

Don't get me wrong, I love snow, Christmas, hot cocoa, fuzzy socks and fireplaces, but as the temperatures decline, palm trees start to sound more and more wonderful...

I've got some fun stuff planned for you guys, so stick around! I promise it won't be nearly as quiet around here as it's been recently-being a high school Senior is really exhausting. If you want to see what I've been up to, pop on over to my Instagram!  

Here's to the beginning of another Polar Vortex winter!

xoxo,

take me to the beach

If you live in Michigan like I do, you've probably seen those "Pure Michigan" commercials. Every time I see them I think "Uh, I dunno where in Michigan that is, cause the only Michigan I know is weeds for grass, bipolar weather and road construction."

Up North, people. That's where it is.

I went camping up by Lake Michigan with my family a few weeks ago. And when I say by, I mean on.

I took this picture from the picnic table.

Yeah buddy.

Seriously though, this is a pretty apt description of how I feel about that beach.

You better believe I instagramed the heck outta that place!

The Fantastic Four, minus Conner (aka Snuggly Buggly)

The Tardis, people. The TARDIS. 

Why so serious?

The end of a long day at Tahquamenon Falls.

This Bald Eagle was perched WAAAAAAAY up high...only my bazooka lens could reach it.

Swimming in Le Lake Michigan

I present to you, the O'Brien weirdos.

Before you start thinking "Wow, the OBriens love eachother enough to hold hands!" You should know that we were just posing for the picture ;)

GEESE!!!! This picture was taken about ten seconds before a bunch of German dudes asked me to take their picture for them. That's right, German dudes. I can check that one off the bucket list.

The Mighty Mac

Havin' a nice ol' lunch on the patio at The Tea Room (Macinac Island)

That moment you realize your Mama isn't in any of the pictures because she was the one behind the camera...

There you go, Mama. 

Have a great day!

*Black and white photo edited with A Beautiful Mess app.

well hello there...

In case you didn't already figure it out, I'm Kathryn, but I go by Kate. This is my little slice of the world...

I promise it's a fun one. This is a no boring zone. 

I'm technically sixteen years old, but secretly I'm a goofy old lady ;) I appreciate the simple things in life; a nice cup of tea, big long words, Everybody Loves Raymond marathons...you know, the good stuff.

I am horribly typo prone, but you'll discover that soon enough. I have a passion for photography, style, crafty endeavors and food. Lots and lots of food. Some of my very best friends are chickens, and I crave a 30 minute bike ride every day. I'm a Roman Catholic, and one of my favorite things to do on a windy day is sit and think about God and His creation-He's pretty cool! I am both shy and loud at the same time, which seems kind of impossible. Rain boots and the sweatshirts are the bomb. Elf is the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Also, I am insanely passionate about the deep, theological meaning behind The Hunger Games Trilogy. Nerd alert.

If you asked what my favorite Bible verse was, I would probably throw five or ten at you, and then realize I'm a nerd. What can I say, the Bible is cool. I never got fruit snacks or juice boxes as a child, so I kinda have a fetish for those now... 

Mother Teresa is my hero. Audrey Hepburn is my spirit animal. I'm a Shakespeare nerd. Get ready for a lot of not-so-funny inside jokes. I have an unhealthy obsession with mac n cheese and donuts. The two worst habits I have are biting my lips and eating while on the computer. I'm eating rhubarb pie straight from the tin as we speak. 

I am a European at heart, which would explain why I'm obsessed with cutesy cottage houses and white picket fences with vines growing up the sides and little shops and such. And Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey is good. Yellow roses are my favorite flower. I love classic rock music. I do not have a favorite color. I am incredibly sarcastic, so watch out for that. I am the spitting image of my mother. Just kidding, no spitting here. Moving on. 


As for my blogging, I really just want to share a bit of my heart with you. Get ready for a whirlwind of crafty, foody, photography, fashoney, lifey fun. 

Thank you for being interested in my little bit of the world-I hope to see you again soon!

xoxo,