kaitie lately...

Let me start with...holy {words i try not to use but still pop into my head when really excited/surprised/anxious/in sudden severe pain} my wedding is in two weeks and two days.

Is this real life?

Also the title is because kaitie lately sounded better than kaitlin lately and because my family and my man and my closest friends call me Kaitie basically always. My brother has called me Kaitlin twice ever and both times it was highly upsetting.

Since I'm kind of a homebody with a love for my family and a love for all things handmade and artisan crafted, here's the pergola my father designed and built and younger brother stained for me to get married under.

Heyyy little brother who is actually much bigger than me. Thanks for the stain job!

My family is pretty talented, I must say. If you love timber and are in the home building market (decorator, architect, builder, new homeowner...) you should check out Accent Truss. I'm biased but I have toured many houses in my day and seen many jobsites, and I must say...no one does trusses quite like my parents. Dad has the best eye for timber frames and he and my mom are an excellent partnership.

Here is me telling my amazing hairdresser for pretty much ten years straight because I have trust issues and no one else is allowed to touch my head what I want my wedding hair to look like.

Donna Hathaway. Upstate SC peeps, find her. She's the best at hair. Plus she's gorgeous, hilarious, and happens to be a super cool biker. For real, go get your hair did by her. It's great.

Drew and I are really really good at presents, but we are also really really bad at them. We cannot keep secrets from each other basically at all, and we have the hardest time not accidentally revealing surprises. So obviously we decided that we should just go ahead and open one present each (he had me open 2 because he technically got me a higher quantity of presents within our budget) this week because we won't be together on real Christmas and have to do it early anyways.

Open gift one and....

We got each other the same thing. Each of us has talked about cast iron skillets so much we each decided it would make a great gift for the other! And we were right--we love them.

He also got me a French press! I adore it. I've admired them for ages but never bought myself one because it wasn't a staple and Liz gave me a big regular coffee maker she and Kyle had before they got a Keurig for their wedding. But it's so pretty! And makes the perfect coffee for my pretty mug collection.

I made our stockings this year by buying the $0.98 ones from Wal-Mart (I've only started shopping at WalMart since moving. I still hate it. But it's cheap.) and then embroidering our names on them. I think they're super cute but I think next year I'm going to make some nice ones that have more detail.

I also made my garters. I took basic ones from Hobby Lobby and totally changed them up. In true refashioning form, I had to take old to make this new...

...so I used beads from my mom's wedding dress all over one. The dangling part on the garter I will be keeping was hanging where Mom's bodice met her skirt. I love it. And I took lace from the hem of her dress to my florist to carry in my bouquet on the big day. She's also my matron of honor. Have I mentioned that I love my mom?

So that's life in the world of the soul behind the seams right now. How about you, readers? What's new in your world?

PS--I'm super excited because on Monday we are FINALLY having a last minute engagement photo shoot! Stay tuned for the pics!

PPS--There is a strong chance I'll be somewhat MIA from the blog for a few weeks due to wedding and a honeymoon cruise but I promise I'll be back soon!

twenty three before twenty four

Today just so happens to be my 23rd birthday!

True story I forgot about my birthday like seven times this year. The whole graduate-move-wedding-whole new life thing has had me a little distracted.

In honor of my birthday, I decided to do a birthday list. Many other bloggers I follow have done them and I find them really inspiring, so, here is my list of 23 things to do before I turn 24:

1. Run at least two 5K's.
I hate running so this will be a hard one but I have always wanted to get into the habit.

2. Dedicate myself to living healthy.
I eat very healthy usually and cook healthy meals. My favorite snacks are granola and fruit and yogurt. I've tried to go healthy before but ended up just getting unhealthier. This time is different. I want to be active and eat well. I'm not trying to lose weight--in fact I do not own a scale and have instituted a "No Scales" policy for my home. This isn't about a number. Just about me living a healthy life.

3. Learn what it really means to be a "wife."
I truly believed I would never get married ever. But I am getting married in a month and a half. I am really excited about this one, because this all came about after I had taken a full year of intentional singleness. No dating, no crushes, nothing. I wanted to learn about myself as an individual and grow in my faith. It was honestly the best thing I've ever done for myself. Don't wish away your single years, because they do incredible things for your soul and your purpose in life. My single season is over now and I am really looking forward to becoming a wife and discovering who I am in that role. Me, of course, but singleness changed me a ton, so I am excited to see what changes marriage brings about.

4. Do at least one creative project every week.
I love to create but since last winter I haven't given myself time to do it. I've missed it, so now I am going to prioritize my creative side.

5. Go on a spontaneous trip somewhere I've never been before (with Drew)
The last two summers I've done it with my mom and it's been awesome. Our first was to Portland, Maine which we planned precisely three days before leaving. Last summer we went to Highlands, North Carolina, which we picked three days before again. We spent our trips exploring the towns, going into a few shops, eating from all the local restaurants, and experiencing what the area offered. I love it. I want to do this once a year, at least.

6. Take a legit cooking class.
I LOVE to cook. Seriously. It's one of my favorite things. I want to learn techniques and ingredients and all sorts of things like that to help me hone my craft as a home chef.

7. Join a club, volunteer group, book club, Bible study, or something like it.
We know I'm not social from my story about my almost new friend. I want to push my skills and grow in this area. This is gonna be scary and hard but worth it.

8. Meet other bloggers.
Again like #7 this will be hard and scary but I want to meet people with similar interests, and I think blogging is a great outlet for me and so many others. Maybe this goal can be tied in with #5...?

9. Buy a DSLR.
I adore photography. I love art of any kind (gee, big surprise, only my entire adult life in art galleries would've been no hint at this) and I love the beauty in capturing moments. However, I am notoriously cheap and will not spend large amounts of money if I do not need to. I've wanted a DSLR for ages, for artistic and personal use, and I can't wait to cross this off!!!

10. Learn a little self-love.
I'm always very critical of myself, whether it's my performance in a certain area of life or my appearance. I am quick to note my shortcomings all too often. This year, I want to remember that God did not intend for me to spend life tearing myself down, but to live a life that reflects the beauty of His love. He thought I was worth the ultimate price, so who am I to argue with him? I'm going to get over myself and love myself more.

11. Paint something and enter it into an art show.
I'm a closet artist. I paint and draw but I don't like to display work outside of my home. I had artwork in a gallery on Gallery Row in Charleston for a time, but after that stopped displaying my work. Probably this comes from #10--being too critical. I'm going to not be afraid and I'm going to display my talent.

12. Visit the snow.
I am absolutely and completely obsessed with snow. But every year I have let one thing or another keep me from going to enjoy it. Not this year. We all need to take the time to do things or see things that bring us joy and remind us of the beauty of life, so I am going to see the snow.

13. Learn to ask for what I want/need without apologizing for it.
Sometimes when I state my needs I feel like a terrible selfish person, so I immediately follow up my request with an apology. Why should I feel bad about asking for something important to my well being? I'm not going to feel bad about being human and having needs.

14. Try some sort of crazy new food I would never think to eat ever.
My family loves food (my brother is a bit of a picky eater but likes to eat fo sho) so we are pretty open to new foodie adventures. I've been branching out my taste slowly, but this year I want to eat something totally insane that sounds wildly unappetizing but has the potential to blow my mind. Wonder if Drew will do this with me or just catch it on camera and laugh at me?

15. Watch the news more.
I love to be informed. I wanted to be a journalist for a really long time. Lately I find myself watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (how did I not watch this show for the last 23 years??) instead of the news, which means I am not as informed as I want to be.

16. Read new things.
I adore reading. I used to get grounded from books because I wasn't social. Like, at all. But I've been repeating my reads lately so I want to get some new ones in--I haven't even found the library in my new town yet...pathetic, I know.

17. Make a quilt.
I just love quilts. That's all there is to say about this one.

18. Play with my dog more.
I love my puppy (who is actually 8 but you wouldn't know it) but we don't play enough. It will be good for both of us.

19. Give to charity.
I work in nonprofit, but I don't make donations. Partly because I work in nonprofit and it's not exactly a lucrative industry. But partly because I make the assumption that annoys the heck out of me when people assume it about my organization--someone else will do it. This really isn't the case usually. Every contribution truly matters.

20. Grow this blog.
I like having a space to write and create and I would love to see it become a space where others come and chat. I love seeing the community in certain blogs...I hope to build that community here soon too.

21. Bake more.
This is just my favorite activity and I don't do it enough.

22. Yoga.
Used to love it and have gotten out of the habit. What better excuse than a birthday to start again?

23. Do things that scare me.
Half of this list are things that make me nervous or uncomfortable. But what better time than in your early twenties to start challenging yourself? I don't want to realize in ten years that I spent 33 years afraid. I'm going to do things that scare me and in ten years look back and say man, I had a great time.

little things, big difference

Something I've learned in my first full month in my first home of my own is that being on a tight (and I do mean tight...you work in nonprofit for love, not money), does not mean that you can't find little ways to make your space feel like a home. For me, the way my living space looks has an enormous impact on my overall well being. I've found that if I don't like my space, I'm more susceptible to bad days and a general malaise while at home. I knew that I would need to work at making my space feel like mine, but I've had to do it slowly. Thankfully, my mom and dad instilled me with great money habits and budget knowledge so I've been able to invest in the apartment here and there despite my small income.

Here are a few before & afters to show how a little bit of money and a few small tweaks can transform a space.

 {move in day living room, deco free}

{pillows: Stein Mart, blue suede $7.98 each; not listed online: brown with buttons $12.98, embroidered "ours" $15.98}

Stein Mart. Who knew? Excellent selection of home decor for not much money.

{kitchen just after moving--almost no decoration}

{paper towel holder, $3.49, Tuesday Morning} 

{set of three vintage style storage jars $12.99, Tuesday Morning}

{fall tea light candle holders, $1.00/each, Dollar Tree}

I've hardly gotten started on my bedroom or home office yet but I have big plans (big yet inexpensive) for both rooms. Just a little money here and there can change the way you feel about your space entirely. My apartment is starting to feel like home finally, thanks to the minor additions I've slowly made.

My mom is also my best friend and matron of honor, so she threw me a kitchen themed bridal shower last weekend. Look out for the wonderful gifts from friends and family that have added to the cozy feeling I'm building in my house! I'll feature my shower in my next post.

What about you? What sorts of things do you do that are small with a big impact? Home, wardrobe, or otherwise?

Question for other writers using Blogger! HELP!!!!

*DISCLAIMER: This post has been updated. Most recent information found at end of post.

So. I've tried coding for my grab box at least ten times. I can get the button, and the box, but the code to grab keeps not showing up in the box.

I've done everything!! When I open the gadget, the coding is missing where it is supposed to go in the box.

At the end, after the first half of the box code, the part where the code for the button starting with <a=href......blahblablah> keeps getting deleted.

I've read lots of comments....and it seems lots of blogger users are having the same problem.

This tutorial (which is amazing, by the way--the issue just seems to be a problem with Blogger) is what I used to help build it. But no matter how many times I re-try, the code just disappears from my grab box.

Goodwillista, I see your box works! What did you do to make it go? (PS I love your blog. I check in very often. Also, yes I would shop your closet--I forgot to comment so on your post.)

Help! I'm usually really tech-savvy but this is just stumping me.

Also, I'm beginning a Wordpress blog for work (which is how the grabber coding thing started--my blog is sort of our tester until we get it going). Who uses Wordpress as a platform? Is it worth the cost to be able to customize more? My company is a nonprofit so we have to be careful where we do and do not invest.

Thanks!

UPDATE: This wonderful wonderful page had the code for the second half of my gadget that made the button actually work. I kept the coding from the first tutorial linked above for the half of the code that made the button. The coding for the box came from this website.

Why we disappeared off the face of the earth....

Well. It's been a while. An embarrassingly long while, actually.

What happened was....Liz and I both kinda had the craziest 2013. After our fall semester ended, I went into graduation/what am I going to do with the rest of my life mode. Liz went into wedding mode.

So here are some pictures of what all went down this year.

Liz became Elizabeth Taylor. I am not kidding. She's really Elizabeth Taylor now.

How freaking cool is it that one of my best friends in the world is Elizabeth Taylor? I geek out about her name basically always.

I became a college grad with a degree in Communications: Public Relations and Advertising.

I'm now using that degree working for an arts and culture nonprofit in the famously hot Columbia, South Carolina. And even though I hate heat, I love that I'm surrounded by the arts every day. I listen to a lot of Etta James, The Rat Pack, and Norah Jones every day at work. My heart is happy.

I moved away from home and now have a lovely little apartment in the suburbs (I love cities but living in one stresses me out. I like quiet and trees.)

And....here is the biggest news...I'll be sharing that apartment with a boy in January. Yep, I'm getting married!

It started with a facebook message from my high school sweetheart, who I hadn't seen or spoken to in two and a half years after breaking up {for the second time} at the end of sophomore year of college. A few weeks later, we went on our {third} first date. It was wonderful.

We kept dating. He even got me into college sports fan gear. If you know me, you know...I loathe sports. I do not understand getting all worked up about a team I have no connection to playing a sport I don't understand and am far too uncoordinated to play. Alas, Drew is a die hard Gamecock fan. I get in trouble if I say red instead of garnet referring to the team colors.

And then, on a lovely drizzly Tuesday in September when he was SUPPOSED to be working a twelve hour shift in the hospital he's a nurse at, he surprised me with a scavenger hunt that led to him and the ring.

{there is no filter on this pic--it's that bright. thank you brilliant earth for the best ring ever}

I'll be Mrs. Beckwith on January 4th, 2014. The wedding is going to be perfectly me--very small and intimate, at sunset in winter, in the art galleries I spent three years working at, to my very best friend. God shocked me when he brought Drew back to my life {third time really is the charm}, but I couldn't imagine saying I Do to anyone else.

So now that you know why Liz and I abandoned the blogosphere for so long, I hope you can forgive us. I promise I'll try so very hard not to run away so long again.

I've got lots of little sewing projects ahead as I continue to set up my first home. Plus, it's my first Christmas in my own house. You know I'm rocking some DIY holiday cheer this year.

So. How have you been, web friends? Anything fabulous in your worlds I've missed out on?