Returning as a Mrs.

Hello blogging friends, I decided it was time for my return! It's been a long while. It was a wonderful, wonderful summer. My sister got married, I got married, and I went to a million friends' weddings. Marriage was abundant, and it's a good thing!

See our wedding photos here! Tamarah is the best. 

After our wedding, we went to Chicago, and it was also wonderful! Late, warm summer weather, lots of good food, and lots of coffee... and I do mean lots. 

We liked this city a lot. We went on an architecture tour, which was really neat. Did you know the Sears Tower isn't actually called the Sears Tower? Look it up. A true fact. 

Obligatory bean picture. 

We also said hello to mister trump in his tower!

Just a few photos from our trip. We've since established a pretty wonderful home in our little basement suite, and once it's a little more on the side of presentable, photos are sure to come! 

What has this summer brought you?

Lull.

                                                                               Source: johngranen.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Snow is lingering. Exams are lingering. It seems the joy of spring is just out of grasp! But it's coming! I know it is. The blog lull won't be for long, I can see lots of creative inspiration coming, it's just not quite within reach yet!

New sights of new cities are coming. Green grass is coming (I think?). COLOUR in the outdoors is coming. Spring cleaning is coming! Wedding planning (a break was nice) is coming. Bare legs in dresses are coming. Seeing my sisters - it's coming! Gardening is coming. Creative inspiration - oh, it better come! 

Hey spring, hurry up? You'd be a big help to the creative side of me. 

She's Back!

Ah, blog, how I have missed you. I am back from a trip across the Atlantic! Portugal really did treat me well. I learnt lots, and saw much! My team and I worked with a wonderful group of people and loved {nearly} every second of it!

Perhaps I will share a few pictures from the trip. During our free days, we visited Nazare, Obidos, Fatima, Queluz, and Alcabaca. My favourite was Obidos! The cutest little village with the best doors! Keep visiting to see pictures soon!

Having very little creative outlet {besides photo-taking} on the trip has caused a large abundance of ideas coming home! I have been working on a vintage recipe book, gift baskets, and some home decor. These posts are coming soon as well {in no particular order}. By the way, I've given the blog a more simple layout. It feel summery and clean to me, what do you think?

Tell me, what has your summer entailed? Travelling, like me? Or staying at home, enjoying the yard?

Enjoy!

The Bag. and its insides.

My purse. I love my purse. Though I usually call it my bag. I have this thing where I don't like saying the word purse. It's like fork, not a pleasant word. It was cheap ($7 folks. I'm a deal-finder). it is falling apart, but I love it. You get to see inside of it today! I literally dumped it out, and this is it. All the secrets of my bag, lying on the floor. Have a look at a little slice of me!

I saw this idea for a post on a few blogs, but I really can't remember whose. So if you did this on your blog, the credit for the idea probably goes to you!

Now just follow the numbers! It's like paint-by-numbers, but looking by numbers. (I should not post on days when I'm up at 5:40am, sorry friends!).

1. sunnies - my favourite pair broke, and is in my car right now. Want to know a secret? I love them so much, I perch them on my nose as I drive. They will...not...die. The pair in my purse are secondary (fixed with a paperclip. My, I do sound sad)

2. wallet - all the way from Granville Island in Vancouver! I love it.

3. lip gloss - from bath and body works. delicious. its minty. doubles as a snack (just kidding).

4. free song/pick of the week - from my place of employment. Oh..actually, today was my last day. My career at Starbucks is over. I'm sad.

5. Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion - also from Bath and Body works. makes my hands lusciously soft!

6. Lacteeze pills - these don't even work for my lactose intolerance anymore. They're just an emergency measure. Soy it is!

7. keys- so i can get places. see that keychain flip-flop? probably from when I was 12. I'm so nostalgic.

8. A cork - from a sparkling apple juice bottle last year. Cause I'm cheesy.

9. Burt's Bees - My roommate from my first year of College knows I lost this little tin too many times to count! But always managed to find it again. Where would I be without Burt? Anyone else a die-hard Burt's fan?

10. A comb - for those fly-away's.

11. Ipod - cause I love my tunes.

12. Mint - emergency material

13. Phone - my trusty little Samsung. Yes, it's a little old, but it works wonderfully. Probably will become vintage soon, that will make it real cool.

14. Tide-to-Go - Oh dear, I couldn't live without this. Teryaki sauce? Tide-to-Go. Cherry juice? Tide-to-Go. It's magic!

15. Shopping List - I'm a list person.

16. A pile of papers -cause it takes a while before I throw out receipts.

17. The bag! I'll have an outfit post with this soon.

Does this give you a glimpse of me? I hope it does. I think it's so fun to see which items are attached to people. What's in your wallet...I mean purse?

I've been a busy bee...many projects to be posted soon. I really hope! If i ever finish all my half started ones! I move to school in three days. Time to get packing!

Enjoy!

Featured!

Hey LOOK! I'm featured over at TJ's blog, Mr. Taylor and His Lady!

Click on the 'Kristen's featured' picture to head on over there and have a look! I'm pretty honoured!

And I have a button! Go ahead and grab it! Thanks to my sister, Jenni, at Tales of Bottomley Cottage, for helping me with that!

Enjoy!

A Bunch of Friday things.

This is a bit of a jumble of a post. You've been fairly warned.

I liked this when I saw it. Because it is very true for me. Except for the 'many things' part. I tolerate quite a bit actually. On second thought, it's not very true. Just sort of true.

Source: annetaintor.com via Caye on Pinterest

It's the weekend! I get to work..and see friends I haven't seen in a while! What are your weekend plans? My family is off at a cabin this week, and I've been stuck at home. Wouldn't it be fun to take a little weekend trip in this?

Source: handmadecharlotte.com via Noelia on Pinterest

And TWO blog news items.

1. I will be guest posting on Mr. Taylor and His Lady in a few weeks! I'm just a tad bit excited.

2. I am going to be part of a blog tour on Elegant Musings next week! Along with lots of other bloggers, I will be sharing a collection of mine!

Here is a song for you. Though called White Winter Hymnal, Fleet Foxes will always remind me of this summer.

It's a good day! A very good, hot, summery day.

Enjoy!

Awkward and Awesome.

I will be missing my blog this weekend. I will be away, and missing reading all of your blogs too! Thank you for your lovely comments! I really, truly always look forward to reading them.

Here's a neat blog for you to browse while I am away.

Mr. Taylor and His Lady writes with a fun, fresh, dry humour. I really almost laughed out loud. And that's not a hyperbole (I was helping my little sister with her English essay tonight, okay?).

The author of Mr. Taylor and His Lady (who is 'his lady' himself I presume) has decided to write 'awkward and awesome thursday' posts. I love this idea! I haven't decided if I'll join in or not, but hey, it could be fun!

Enjoy your weekend!

Fashion Blog Find!

So, I have really found the best clothes lately. Taking pictures and sharing them will be a must... some day of course. I would love to blog all about fashion! But of course, all creations deserve attention. I really have no choice in the matter.

Of course, some people do blog all about fashion! I found a really neat blog this evening. Girl and Closet celebrates fashion at its best. Remixing clothes so they live up to their full potential. This excites thrifters like me! Remixing clothes is where it's at.

Meet Veronika. Author of Girl and Closet.

Here's a bit of what she does.

But I won't go into too much detail. Please take a look for yourself!

Browse.

Sigh.

Adore.

and Goddle (I'm sure it's a word. meaning 'look upon with great envy'. You've heard of it, have you not?)

Lovely fashion, lovely lady, it seems.

Looking for more neat blogs? Well you're in luck! I have a 'Loved Blogs' tab. Scroll Up. Look about two inches from the far left of the screen. There it is. Just as I predicted. 'Loved Blogs'. Seems it's been there for some time. You've missed out, haven't you!

Enjoy!

May Lovelies

I love blogs that have regular 'feature' posts. and i love lists. So why don't I try it out? Every month, I am going to (well, I say this now. I'll see how often it actually happens) have a "Lovelies" post. I happen to think a lot of things are lovely. And I love sharing them! This is basically the idea I base my blog around, but the "Lovelies" posts will be a bit different than regular posts. They will have all sorts of links for you to browse through, not just what I'm up to. Where else to get inspiration from but other crafty people? Hopefully you'll be able to find some neat Etsy shops, pretty blogs, and doable DIY projects from the links!

And so, here we are! the Lovelies posts have begun!

Lovely Number One:

I love the movie Julie and Julia. Of course, my mom knew more about Julia Child than I did, but i think Julia's character, played by Meryl Streep, (one of the world's best actresses I'm sure) is quite entertaining! But did you know people blog about following more than just a cookbook? It's true. Gertie, a self-described 'sewing enthusiast' from New York started her blog committed to working through a Vogue vintage sewing book. I love this concept! See the entire journey on her blog.

Lovely Number Two:

I love shopping. I love having options to wear. And I love re-creating outfits out of pieces I already own. But I really love getting new clothes. I found a neat clothing company called Spotted Moth. (found through here via here. Sometimes reading blogs takes you on rabbit trails. I've accepted it) Here are a few of my favourite items from Spotted Moth. I accept gift cards or cash.

found here.

found here.

found here.

And not even too pricey either. Bonus points in my books.

Lovely Number Three:

I look at a lot of blogs. And i mean A LOT. It's hard to keep track of them all, but the one I look at most regularly is Smile and Wave. I love Rachel's style, vintage, yet so fresh. Her house tour is pretty neat. I loved it anyway.

There we have it! May lovelies.

Enjoy!

Utah.

Not-So-Well-Known-Fact-About-Kristen: I have never been to Utah. I know, you're surprised, but I really haven't! But, for some reason, the past few days, I have come across a few blogs that are from the ladies of Utah. Need some inspiration? These ladies came give it to you!

Leanne gives lots of DIY projects, current thoughts and...green smoothies? Check out her blog, Elle Apparel.

She re-covered a couch, she designs paper party supplies, and she has the same name as me! Call Me Kristin is a neat blog.

Just thought I would share my findings. Also, since everyone I know is talking about William and Kate's wedding, did you see it? I looked up the highlights on youtube's The Royal Channel. Almost like I was there! It was beautiful! Here's some cute wedding shoes (not Kate's as far as I know).

Source: louboosandshoes.blogspot.com via Holiday on Pinterest

Enjoy!

Lull.

I really did want to craft. I did. But, the start of a new semester holds my creative inspiration back. There will most likely be a lull in posts. My mother, on the other hand, was showing me all sorts of neat creative things the other day! Here are some blogs she showed me, and a few I found.

A very fresh Mudroom idea! - Creative ideas from a mom named Beth. And she likes decorating on a dime! My kind of crafting.

Pretty bird decor! - another creative blog from a mom who lives in the suburbs, but prefers cozy cottages. This isn't even facebook, but I'll like this blog without clicking a button.

A very neat idea with chalkboard paint! - I love the idea of chalkboard paint, but I am scared that if I actually painted something with it, it would lose its novelty. But props to Just Live Simply for trying it out!

Be Inspired! Be crafty! Be creative so I don't feel such withdrawl!

Enjoy!

Kristen

I hereby declare myself a bloggist.

Yes, I do realize that a bloggist is more commonly referred to as a blogger, but really, who wants to follow normal trends?

I have really enjoyed blogging this entire summer, and as this summer comes to an end, (Happy Sepetember!) I really hope to continue this fantastic habit I seem to have acquired, blogging for the better good of creative minds!

I heard about the new Stats feature on Blogger (under dashboard) and have been enjoying it thoroughly! It's quite satisfying knowing more than one person reads my blog! I blog for the personal enjoyment of it, but it's kind of fun knowing readers do exist! Thank you readers! You are appreciated!

So, in celebration of my love of being a bloggist, I will share a few of my favourite things. You can see more of my favourite on the list to the right.

Jenni's Blog- beautiful photos, words and inspiration from my sister. She's an avid blogger as well.

Craftster- here's a whole community of crafters. I haven't been here lately, but it's a back up sometimes when i'm out of ideas. I'll admit, sometimes it just makes me feel good about myself if I see a project I could do better and succeed.

ReadyMade Blog- As you may have noticed, I have mentioned ReadyMade before, one of my favourite magazines. Here is the blog on the ReadyMade site that I actually only started reading today. I enjoyed how it's often very cleverly written, as well as has fun things!

What Anna Loves - more pretty inspirational things!

Aesthetic Outburst- I love how she shares her photos!

Hope this gave you some crafty inspiration for your day! I'm working on some strawberry plant tins today, will be posted soon! I also had found some neat apothecary style jars during my MCC trip, and recovered one of the lids with the same fabric as my lamp yesterday. I'm not sure what to use them for yet. Jordon suggested loose tea, my dad suggested candy. And other ideas?

Here's to bloggists everywhere!

Enjoy!