simple saturday.

i like to think that i have an interesting style. i truly dislike being identical as every other girl, and there's no lie that that standard of mine carries on into my dress. don't get me wrong, i am still a lover of neutrals and probably wear gray and black 90% of the time, but just jeans and a t-shirt do not normally cut it for me. i love layers. i love accessorizing. i love personalizing an outfit. the struggle with this mindset though is the occasional want for simplicity. today i woke up and had two thoughts in mind (who am i kidding, i had about a thousand thoughts but these made the top of the list). one, i really wanted to wear the new top i bought yesterday. if you are a girl and do not feel the burning desire to wear what you bought immediately, you are lying. you just are. and two, i was tired of wearing my classic jeans and sweater combo. so, i put this little number together. i am forever a lover of the shorts and tights trend, if you are wondering. i even overheard the shop girls at a store comment on it-- these are the kind of confidence boosts i sometimes need on lazy saturdays when your hair is resembling a bird's nest. give someone that confidence boost today. 

[ comin' atchu live wid that model face. jk, it's my ten cars have come down my street in the past minute and i am trying to look like just a normal girl having a photo shoot with her brother face. ]

[ all time favorite shoes. // anthro. ]

[ crooked smile, squinty eyes. ]

happy weekend, friends! may you enjoy leftover turkey and pumpkin pie and take too many naps. that's my agenda, at least.

yours truly,

cate

in the ideal world.

in the ideal world, i would write funny bits and pieces of my everyday life and make every situation seem really witty and interesting. (news flash: its not). i had imagined myself sitting down in a picture-perfect setting (you know, the candles, the music, the chai tea, the sound of your neighbor mowing their lawn. oh the ambiance.) writing the night away. then i realized two things. one, i really love sleeping. and two, what you love to do normally wins. however, i also really realized that i was not always not writing. i realized i constantly write in my head (then the smart one reading this will state that those are just thoughts, you idiot). even as i am in the midst of a situation, i think about how i will tell the story. sometimes life seems much more poetic when thought of in this manner.

in the ideal world, i would write full page essays about each all the happenings as of late. but, i do not have a lot of time right now because i am listening to a really good song and it's about to turn into a dance party up in here. and also, not even my mother would read essays about all the thoughts i have on a daily basis.

in the ideal world, these following statements would be headlines that all the essays and chapters of my future memoir will have the honor of beholding:

________

i have decided that my writing style as typography goes resembles a lot of e.e.cummings' poems. all lowercase, an excessive about of parentheses, you know-- deep crap like that.

 i watched the movie, begin again, yesterday and honestly did a small squeal of excitement throughout the entire movie, gushing on keira knightly's outfits and the whole concept of the movie, honestly.  OH, and the music! go to spotify right now and have it be the sound track you listen to as you read this.

 i realized that watching gilmore girls is even better the second time. and in chunks. seven-episode chunks, especially.

 i am reading amy poehler's new book, yes please, and am really enjoying myself. i also cannot remember the last time i read a book for fun. (4-5 years? kindergarten?)

 i have felt an overwhelming sense of thankfulness thinking about how lucky i am to have such a loving, kind family. not in a cheesy, life is perfect way, but in a wow life is so unpredictable yet beautiful way.

i have been wearing a lot of dresses lately. because, heck, everything is better in a dress. 

 i have realized that i really like to sing in the car. and also realized that my younger brother (graham) seems turns up the music as i start to sing. wow, what a coincidence!

 i rarely feel put together if my room is not clean. oh hey, my room is a mess. 

i am really bad at calligraphy and quite surprised at how hard it is. help a sista out, anyone?

i am surprisingly okay-kinda-freaking-awesome at public speaking. like, perfect score on my final formal speech good. i don't brag about a lot of things, but MAN, you got to give me snaps for this one. (notice i said snaps, not claps. i have this wonderful and insane dream of performing a poem at a poetry slam and once i am finished, the crowd puts down their double chai tea decaf latte no cream and gives me a standing ovation as they snap their little fingers away.)

i like a straight forward hello and goodbye. not any of that mysterious and vague texts with off-subject remarks. what's wrong with a simple "hello"? (maybe the creepy old man vibe you get when reading that word? okay, i see.)

art sometimes makes me cry. but chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven often make me cry too, so i don't know if that says a lot.

i realized my true laugh is both hideous and annoying and that just makes me laugh even more. 

and lastly, i think social media could be best and worst thing to happen to society. i don't know, just a thought.

________

in the ideal world, i would continue writing for hours, but what's that i smell? cookies in the oven? a dance party of one waiting to happen? got to go cry and laugh and consume too much chocolate and dance all at once. the heart wants what the heart wants, as they say. 

also, who is this "they" everyone refers to when trying to crack a joke? 

yours truly,

cate

a year older.

a few weeks ago (well, october 2nd to be specific), i turned 17. i know what you are thinking, 17? are you sure? maybe she did a typo and meant to put a 2 instead of a 7. surprise, surprise, all-- i am only 3 years away from my next decade! woo to the hoo, am i right?

anyways, i am embarrassed to admit where i found this quote (coughtumblrcough), but it really does express my feelings on this age--

"seventeen seems like the perfect age. not naive like sixteen. not feeling the pressures of daunting adulthood like eighteen. just plain and simple, seventeen."

often times i tell people i just want to be 25. while, that still that could not be any more true, i am learning that this age only comes once. you are only a teenager once, no matter how painfully awkward or un-fun it can be at times. i am trying to get through these years with grace and poise, as well as choosing to not take myself so seriously (hey remember this post?). because, we have the rest of our lives to do that. why adulthood sounds so fun to me, i do not know. i will probably regret believing that all these years. sorry, 25 year old Cate, i was wrong. if i am being honest here (and i always am), this act of so called "enjoying being a teen" is hard for me. i believe that i am not your typical teenager. i do not do the same things, act the same way, or have the same goals as most of my peers or friends. i am learning that this is okay. more than okay, actually. being confident in your individuality is something to be thankful for! anyways, i am 17 (wishing i was 25) but could not be more content with where i am and where i am going. 

off from that tangent, on my seventeen birthday, my friend (anna bliss ) and i bought some flowers, ate some popsicles, and took a few too many photos. one of my favorite gifts i received was a starter calligraphy set from Antiquaria Designs. 

cheers to sunflowers, learning new things, and a year older!

yours truly,

cate 

oh, tuesdays.

long time, no see (talk? blog? virtually communicate?), party people. 

lately, along with being absolutely crazy busy, i have been avoiding posting on my blog because i never had the "right words" to say. then i got to thinking, what are the right words? what are the wrong words? after i did a sigh of relief and a shaking of the head whispering "silly cate, you are too hard on yourself", i decided that there really are no wrong words. except for words like moist and dank and slaw (that one is for you, mom) but that is beside the point. all this to say, today i wanted to post some photos that i took while on a trip downtown with school. those words are simple & authentic so they will work for now. enjoy, friends.

fun fact: tuesday is my least favorite day of the week. it's like another monday but a day later and not an accepted day to complain about. oh, tuesdays. 

yours truly,

cate

art gallery weekends.

my dear friend, alex, and i went to a local art gallery last weekend. we had fun, so here are a few snaps from our trip.

[ gah, those colors are too good. ]

[ one of our favorite pieces. ]

[ what i love more than art itself, is the atmosphere of art galleries. simple, clean, yet home-like feeling with the walls covered.]

[ what can i say? i am just really drawn to art. *cheesey art joke; please laugh*]

[ art, guys, it's emotional. actually, i was just embarrassed because alex asked me who was in that painting and i said "bob dylan". i'm real cultured, y'all.]

[ hey, here's alex in a bush. ]

weekends spent staring at art with good company are the best weekends. 

am i right or am i right?

yours truly,

cate

crying over planners (and other facts about me).

lately, i have realized that some of you may know me well. maybe a little too well if you can point out when i have lied about doing some sort of exercise or about how many cookies i ate. however, some of you do not know me that well. so, let me introduce you to the girl behind the stories you read and the photographs you see. i hope you find her more interesting than the stupid instagram posts she spends way too much time on or the way she awkwardly laughs when someone trips. 

and, if not, then picture me singing "forget you, and forget you too". (oh no. cee-lo green lyrics pop into my head without any thought. i'm done for, people.)

without further ado, here are ten facts about me (cate):

1. when i get really excited about something (you know, important things like planners & washi tape), i start crying. literal tears, guys.

off topic: when the container store first opened up in my city, my mom did not allow me to go for 4 months because she knew i would have a freak-out sess in the middle of the store over how organized it was. well, she was right.

2. okay, this may come as a surprise to some of you, but... i hate coffee. i know, i know. i love coffee shops. i love the smell of coffee. i love posting photos of coffee. but, i hate coffee. (tea freaks, where you at?) 

3. i absolutely love having flowers. daisies, especially. (pro tip: if you want to make my day, all you have to do is bring me a single white daisy in a glass tied with twine... and a burger, but that's beside the point. no, i'm not high-maintenance, at all.) however, anything plant-related i own, i kill. not joking: i have killed 2 cactus' in the past 6 months. how that is even possible considering they don't even need watering, I DON'T KNOW.

4. i get lost quite frequently. i could be 3 minutes from my home, and think i am across town. thank god for iphone maps & kind friends to remind me which way to turn. (i blame my directionally-challenged-ness on my mom. she's just as bad, if not worse.)

5. i value expressing myself through clothing. i believe it says a lot about who you are and what you think of yourself. however, i go to an all-girls catholic school and wear a uniform everyday. i'm talking, plaid skirt and all (for my school friends, i know, i know- it's houndstooth). this little fact just makes me laugh at how ironic life can be sometimes. oh, life, you got me again! ;)

6. my family calls me eor because of this, but i love the rain. i am always my happiest on days when the sky is gray and pelting me with rain drops as i walk to my car (however, my hair is not equally as thankful). 

pro tip to future husband: ask me important questions in the rain and i will most likely say yes. (i.e. "honey, does steak sound good for dinner?" or maybe even "will you marry me?". you know, the little questions. )

7. if you see me in a large group (um... think a speech class), you may think i am seriously mute. however, give me one friend & one of my awkward, "classic cate" stories, i could talk for hours. this sounds like a tumblr post, but it is true. i ain't just sayin' it for dat re-blog. 

8. i don't really find the fascination in being obsessed with celebrities. they are just regular people with their own joys and problems, just simply over-exposed. but, don't get me wrong, if zooey deschanel walked into the room, i would not hesitate to give her a hug and ask to touch her iconic bangs. wait... would that freak her out? asking for a friend. 

9. i am curious. although, for a lack of better terms, what i really mean is i am nosey. ya know, i truly wish i wasn't, but sometimes i just can't help but listen to crazy sally sitting next to me as i get a haircut talk about how her grandmother got arrested that morning.

that really is a true story. ask me about it, pal.

10.  i am a Christ-follower. if you have read my blog over the years, the reasons for my outlook on life is all because of the love Jesus has shown me. the reason for my smiles, my (hopefully) encouraging words, and adoration for people & their stories all points back to Him. i could expand on this much more, but if you want to know more, please feel free to send me an email or (if you know me personally) i would love to grab coffee with you!

other things i love: autumn, the first day of a month, lists, clean sheets, sour gummy worms, morning voices, airports, long conversations, and cats (because, are you a real blogger if you don't love cats? no, the answer is no.).

give me a shout (wait, no. don't shout at me. i may cry. try a gentle "you rock, cate" text or a fit bump-explosion-thingy.) if you relate with me on any of these. or even if you don't, it's reassuring to know they're aren't any other cate's in the world. if there were, there would be an abundance of eccentric, squinty smiles and green tea spilled on laps. 

yours truly,

cate

over all of it.

Hi hi! Okay, let me tell you the story behind this get-up before you start questioning my sanity. All summer I have envied bloggers, fashion-icons, and instagrammers who have pulled off the overall look. I wanted to be one of the people, truly. While on a trip, I popped into Sacs and came across these delightful things. I was too excited to even have a heart attack over the price tag (no worries, it was on sale. but the kind of anthropologie-sale that means it wasn't really on sale. you get me?). Once I tried them on and realized they fit perfectly, I was almost sold. Of course, I had to get the opinions of my fellow shoppers as well as the woman who checked me out. From everyone it was a yes. Including myself. 

Anyways, I know some people (*coughmomcough*) think I'm just trying to bring the 90s back, while others (*coughbrotherscough*) think i am trying to look like i just got off the farm. But honestly, I think they are adorable and different, and i am just over all the outward opinions (har-har). But real talk-- I think they rock, and that's all the matters. Confidence is key.

 

Two of my pals (Parks & Claire) went downtown this past weekend with the sole intent to take photos. Claire had a photography project to work on, while i just wanted to have an excuse to wear this outfit (might as well be honest with you guys). Enjoy some more photos from our outing...

[ photo of a photo. ]

[clairey]

[parks]

[ rock on. ]

[album cover? joking, joking.]

[candid.]

[claire and i]

[ selfie time feat. the three of us ]

[peace out sista/brah ]



that's all for today! i'll be back and cooler than ever soon. wait... nevermind about the second half of that sentence.

have a wonderful week, friends!

yours truly,
cate

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 

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.

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