23.8.14

In my bag.


I know many of you have woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat before wondering the question "What is in Cate's bag?". I know, i know. So have I. Thankfully, today your worries will be put to rest. Enjoy, friends. 


1. The bag //  Sole Society // I purchased my bag in the spring and have been obsessed with it ever since. I normally carry it by it's cross body strap, but sometimes i carry it by the shoulder strap (aka for your elbow bend) if i am feelin' sassy. 

2. Wallet // Anthropologie (from way back when) // i love you forever, anthro. as if you did not know already. 

3. Sunnies// Cat eye's from Target and wayfarers from Alter'd state. Both under $15; I do not believe in expensive sunglasses. Maybe because i cannot afford them, but my point still stands.

4. Sketch pad // I almost-always have my mini sketch pad with me to jot down any life altering questions or ideas i may have. Also, it's a great alternative to staring at your phone when you are waiting on your dinner guests.

5. Favorite pens // The pilot precise v5 rt // who would have thought a pen could have such a verbose name?

6. Earbuds // Because, sometimes one does not want to talk to people, and this person needs some quiet time with Young the Giant and The Lumineers. 

7. Photos // Lately i have been carrying around a stack of photos from my trip to Europe this past summer. Because who knows when someone will ask about it, and photos are the best story tellers.

8. Glasses // Kate Spade // I'll be honest, i don't really need glasses. I am only slightly near sighted, so they help with driving or at school, but besides that i rarely wear them. (unless they go with my outfit, ya feel?) 

9. Iphone // My case is from Jcrew and says "l'amour est dans l'air" (french for "love is in the air").

10. Ritz crackers // I get the case of hangry (hungry = angry) alot... 

11. Watch + hairties // Fossil // fun fact: I am the kind of person who cannot keep her watch on for a long period of time. I am constantly taking it on and off. And i use those crease-less pony tail holders-- way too expensive, but crease-less hair is priceless. 

12. Various lip products // burts bees chapstick, rosebud lip salve (salve-- i so dislike that word), and clinique's black honey almost-lipstick.  


Feel better now that you know the innermost part of my life? I'm so glad. 
Have a lovely weekend! 

Yours truly,
Cate 


19.8.14

Don't take yourself so seriously.


[taken while watching a 5am sunrise with the bro]


This week, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been trending on almost every social media. Throughout the week, people have been dumping cold ice water on themselves, their friends, their dog, their mom, and just about anything you could possibly think of. Then, the fad is to "nominate" a few buds to do the same and share their reaction. Despite the wonderful outcome and fame to this challenge (not to mention how much mula has been raised to find a cure for ALS), there is always a negative nellie out there. You know, those haters who call the challenge dumb or annoying or are too embarrassed to participate. Though i, personally, cannot think of anything i would rather watch more than screaming ladies and gents drenched in ice water (it is sad how many laughs and tears have come from these videos), the challenge is more than a post. Through each and every video posted, more awareness is raised. With awareness, comes people of all backgrounds and social classes to donate* to a cure that is much needed in our society. Why can't the neg nell's of the world get their crap together, get off twitter, and just read a book if they are so bothered? Guys, stop hatin', start appreciatin'. 

Off from that little tangent, posting a video of yourself online screaming soaking wet is not something everyone wants to do. Of course, you will always have your extra bold friend who would post a video of themselves meowing online if asked, but the point of the challenge is to simply laugh at yourself and not take yourself so seriously so the world can change. It may seem silly and stupid, but please think about the effect social media has on our culture. *pondering man pose* It's insane people. Something as small as your phone is making the majority of the influence on today's society. Thankfully, with something so genius & contagious as social media & the inter-webs, we have the choice to use it for good or to corrupt it. Hey, it's okay to be a little obsessed with Instagram if we are using it to please the Lord and share some laughs. (Or at least i think so.)

 If i was so-called "nominated" a year ago to do this task, it would be solid "hecks no". Why? Because i would have been too worried as to what people would think. OH BOY, let me tell you, the thought of worrying about what others think of me makes me want to laugh now. It is just not worth it. Only living to please others is a waste of time and it deprives us from the amount of joy we can obtain. And, oh the joys there are in life! 

[disclaimer: I am by no means a perfect person, but simply growing and striving to become better and more Christ-centered lady each day. And thank goodness for that, because perfection is so last year. ]

 However, with change and with confidence, comes the ability to be vulnerable to others. Be the witty guy, be joyful when everyone else isn't, laugh too much, sing too loud, extend your self-car-dances to outside the vehicle, eat too much cake, be honest, make fun of yourself when you fall down the stairs, wear a tye dye cat shirt to a fancy restaurant, go all 2nd grade on yourself & play 'you you rather' instead of poking on your phone during a road trip, share your story with a stranger, watch the worst documentary you see on Netflix, and so on. Before i start to sound like a Pinterest quote gone wrong, we must remember self-control is always a must-- but you can still have fun and be true to yourself while keepin' classy and stayin' sassy. 

(Oh dear, i am starting to rhyme. You know that means Cate is tired and this post is about to turn into a Dr. Seuss poem.)

All 'n all, we are not called to be so worried with our image to where we cannot even be our most authentic self. We were created beautifully and with purpose, you guys! That purpose being to choose kindness over coolness. Coolness places the spotlight on you, while kindness places the spotlight on others. Plus, wouldn't you rather be remembered as the guy/girl who included the weird kid (who am i kidding, we are all weird) in your Friday night plans rather than the person who others were fearful of your "scary" (*eye roll*) 17-year-old-self wrath? Yep, me too.

So, don't take yourself so seriously, friends. It's just not worth it.

Yours truly,
Cate

*** You can donate online at alsa.org AND watch my ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on instagram (@cate.marg) along with the millions of others who participated in the challenge under #ALSIceBucketChallenge.

12.8.14

thoughts on change.

 
hello, hello, hello.

i have been trying to writing this post for a while now. it is a bit different from what I normally put out on the ole web; but different is good, don't you think?  props to you if you finish it all. i would mean kitties and sunflowers to me, truly.
 
 

as i have stated in past posts, this summer has been the best yet. with being able to drive, comes freedom (and way too many unneeded target runs). with traveling, comes being busy (and not a lot of time to be bored). with friends in town, comes spontaneous adventures (ahem, to anthropologie and antique malls. we go hard.). with surprising circumstances, comes time to grow (and a lot of time to think).

therefore, on that last statement, here's this: life happens. i have been saying this quite frequently after a surprising situation this season, but not really taken the time to process it. as i am writing this post, i am trying to steer clear from this being a too detailed this-is-for-you-jerk post (though that really would be easiest, truthfully), but also not too vague where you could think these words are just about my current issue at hand of not having enough milk for my cereal.
 
however, that actually is a real problem, but i won't get into that right now.
 
 
change used to be a really scary, daunting word for me. why? because it requires to get out of your comfort zone and be okay with not knowing the future. it also requires trust. and a whole lot of it. those were two quality traits that i, personally, did not have in my repertory. however, Jesus has changed that this year, this season, this summer especially.
 
over summer, the way i have grown and changed the most is through rejection. rejection is a word no one likes to say or admit they feel. it is like having to admit you ate 6 double chocolate chip cookies instead of a salad for dinner (nope, that has never happened to me).  the truth is, rejection from anyone, whether you have known them for a while or it's just someone on the street, hurts. it's just does. 
 
first I will talk about rejection from friends. over the years I have been softly rejected by friends, where it's just plain obvious they do not want to be around me. and that doesn't hurt for more than a day, honestly. yeah, okay you don't want to be friends with me, good for you. you are missing out on my crazy Netflix and pizza nights. it's your loss. see, easy peasy.
 
 however, recently I have experienced being rejected by a close friend without any warning or speed bumps to slow me down and say "CATE, we have a problem 911". i need those kind of signs and shouts, guys, remember that. anyways, for one night I was upset about the situation, then a couple of days I went through the infamous i want to punch someone phase, but now, months later I can see how everything is working out for good. (guys, settle down. i did not want to hurt anyone. well, not that much). I constantly had the feeling of unfairness in the situation-- the fact that the friend got to speak his/her point and belittle me while I just sat there (though just sitting there was a choice-- if I were to speak in that situation my words would be rash and regretful). later, I felt as if I deserved to give him/her a piece of what pain I was experiencing, as if it were only fair for me to get all my anger and hurt across to the friend. however, life is not fair. I have learned that so, so many times from a very young age.
 
for example, there have been a few times in my life i have chosen to grow, but 99% of my life, i have been forced to grow. the first time was when my dad passed away due to cancer when i was in 2nd grade. man, this was/is hard. and, cancer, you suck. (before you virtually give me the "awww, bless your heart" look, continue reading please). the reality of this does not get easier with time. i still sometimes yearn for the cookie cutter family that so many of my friends obtain, or get upset by the fact that i do not have a father to walk me down the aisle someday (but, my awesome bros' will do me the honor, no worries). however the peace i have with this part of my life is so abundant and my thankfulness overflows. how? well, the only word i have to answer that question is Jesus. I would not without a doubt be who i am today without his presence in my life and through this experience. truthfully, i do not fully understand how this is possible, but i have learned to be okay with that. there is beauty in not knowing a plan that is way higher than your thoughts.
 
sometimes I just need to be reminded of the past ways Christ has worked in my life to understand the new ways he is working in me now. also, it's just not worth my time to dwell on things that I cannot change, and quite honestly now I don't want to change them.
 
everything happens for a reason. change will come your way whether you choose it or not. sometimes when it is chosen for you, it just shows that you were too stubborn to accept the need for it in the first place or be the one to initiate it. I am so grateful for healing and for life to continue on it's lovely track. that is a choice you have to make-- to be vulnerable to Christ and let him mold you into who he wants you to be. all this to say, change is such a beautiful chaos, and for that I am thankful.
 
  in the meantime, i am just chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool (please, someone get my reference),
and letting Jesus deal with the rest.
 
...wait, just joking.
 i cannot be cool if my life depended on it.
 
 
Yours truly,
Cate