discoveries & inspirations: winter

hello, dear pals!
today i want to share with you a few things that have inspired me as of late. it's only fair to let you fall in love with them too. mostly so i can have someone to share in my obsessions with & happy-cry over the same weird things. that's what friends are for, right? right. 

fall in love with this home even more by looking at more photos here. 

1. tiny houses

first, i watched the documentary on it called tiny. then i proceeded to browse through the tiny house blog. then i googled tiny houses. then searched on pinterest for tiny houses. then swooned hard-core over hundreds and hundreds of tiny houses. i know what you are thinking: say tiny house again, cate, i dare you. nonetheless, what is most interesting to me about these small homes (look, synonyms!) is the intricate designs and efficiency of the amount of space provided. at first, it seems impossible to live in such a compact area, however, when you realize the excess amount of just stuff we obtain (especially americans) it almost seems easier in the long run to have less, live simply, and overall do more with limited resources. 

(also, the tiny house documentary is on netflix. you can thank me later when we are all building my new tiny house. bring your hammers, friends.) 

2. the jealous curator. 

for any art lover, this blog is a dream come true. danielle krysa, aka the jealous curator, has quite possibly my dream job. from researching and discovering new artists, to curating shows in places like washington d.c. and beyond, AND getting to share it with the world (ahem, not to mention being pretty darn famous for it), this lady may just be the coolest of them all. so, danielle, can we be best friends? i promise to give you full credit when people comment at the insane amount of art that will someday adorn my walls. as for now, taped pretty cards and magazine pages will have to do. ah, to dream. 

(scroll endlessly on her website by clicking here. my personal favorites currently are these beautiful pieces by mister blick and this breath-taking typography installation by ben skinner.)

3. the essence of now

we all know i am a frequent *coughalldayeverydaycough* pinner, but if i am being honest i am always a bit reluctant to post a quote. because, a) most quotes are cliche & overdone. sorry, dr. suess, i am breaking up with you, and b) i always think to myself "it this truth? or just the world's acceptance of what they want to be true?". still, emma watson has a special place in my heart. her confidence, her boldness, and her love for the now is just plain heartening. quotations such as these remind me that we are not promised a tomorrow and to not just be a dreamer but a doer. 

this photo is via aimee song on her blog song of style. 

4. the "no photoshop" movement 

when you read an article like this one, it is clear that our society demands an altercation. darling magazine's movement to not alter any women's  faces and bodies is proof that that change is coming. other companies such as aerie are also choosing to not retouch models. we should make women feel beautiful in their own skin without unrealistic standards paraded in front of our eyes to truly see the lack of importance on the outside when you have a genuine inside. innovation such as this in our "you have to look/be/act a certain way" society is nothing but exciting. 

oh, have a mentioned i am infatuated with darling magazine yet? (yes, cate, you have actually: here and here) i just cannot help it-- their desire to to not conform to the demands of media  is so daring & lovely. reading their content only leaves me feeling encouraged & inspired to make a change. shameless promo number three is in the books, you guys. 

what has inspired you lately? please share in the comments below!

yours truly,
cate

a black & white winter

there is just something about black and white photos and fresh air that makes my heart sing. here's to you, beautiful january weather. i want to keep you around for awhile.

yours truly,

cate

p.s. a big thanks to my friend, madeline, for snapping most of these photos. love you, dear amigo. 

read this!

thought i would share an article that truly entails all that i believe fashion can be. these words are my thoughts but beautifully and adequately put together. click, read, & enjoy below:

"is it wrong to be a fashionista" by natalie decleve

i would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on what natalie had to say about the issue of fashion. holla at me. 

yours truly,

cate 

2015 | give.

hey hey hey 2015. i'm super into you already.

don't you like when people refer to a year as a person to sound insightful? me too. 

being as goal-oriented as i am, of course i am a lover of the ever cliche new years resolutions. i'll spare you the long explanations of each of these goals (you're welcome), so without further ado, here's my six (and a half) ambitions for the new year.

one. keep a journal
two. make time for the things that bring me joy/i want to succeed in (blogging, art, writing, photography, styling, etc.)
three. learn to live simply & without desire for perfection* (aka get rid of the unneeded- physical & personal)
four. do not let temporary situations rule my heart
five. lessen my dependence and attachment to social media.
six. allow Jesus to be the sole thing that fulfills me
 six & a half. maybe get bangs. let's just see how bold i can be. ;)

this year's word of the year is (drum roll please) give. i long for a world where others are our focus, and so that starts with what i can control: me. this past year i continually became aware that my focal point on a regular basis was myself: what benefits me, what i want to do, how i am affected by a situation, me, me, me, i, i, i. my desire is to be a giver-- a giver of grace, of love, and of myself for the sake of others. to fix my gaze on what really matters in life, that's the goal, my friends. everyone is always in the need for improvement (except you, taylor swift, except you.), so i am learning to not be afraid to admit where i have gone wrong, where i have failed, or where i need to grow in my own life. so, as for now, that is to forget about myself yet continue to boldly share my life openly. and have a dance party or three. those are necessary, too.

darling magazine  (my new favorite pass time) and their mission capture truly what i desire to be this year and every year. here's a peek:

2015, i expect great things from you, my friend.

(see i did it again. i'm sorry.)

yours truly,
cate

*more on this later. excited to share with you my thoughts on perfection.