Simply Kate

1,000 Subscribers Giveaway!

2012-01-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

My YouTube Channel, Kate's Book Club has reached 1,000 Subscribers!

I'm thrilled!

So I'm hosting a Giveaway!

Three Winners will get their pick of one of these books!

And One Grand Prize Winner will get their choice of three!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ambition is the Word of 2012!

2012-01-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

I've never been too great at keeping to goals.

So maybe this year, if I call them ambitions, I'll do better.

Maybe.

I have a few manageable ~~goals~~ ambitions for the year.

- Make my apartment into a home. -

- Finish an entire rewrite of my novel. -

- Try to be all around more healthy. -

- Read 75 books. Yes. 75. I managed 50 last year. I'm going to do even better this year! -

- Post a new video to Kate's Book Club every week. (With four freebies.) -

- Post a blog post every week. (With four freebies.) -

- Try not to let the little things bother me. -

Those sound like some good ambitions, right?

I think so.

Happy New Year, everyone!

2011

2011-12-31T11:59:00.000-08:00

In hindsight - 2011.

Well, in that case. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have started posting on my blog again right before Christmas when I was busy having holiday merriment thrust upon me. Oh well.

Without further ado, the recap of twenty-eleven.

Highlights:

- I kissed my wonderful boyfriend for the first time. -

- I moved out to state. Utah to Las Vegas! An awesome, scary, wonderful choice! -

- I went to Louisiana with my sister and some friends! It was amazing! Now I can say I've been to 33 states! -

- I kissed my incredible boyfriend some more. -

- I got a job as a preschool teacher. -

- I visited California to see my boyfriend. We went to the beach. My first time since I was 14. -

- I saw Sugarland, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, The Cataracts and B.O.B. in concert. -

I tried beignets, adobo and sushi for the first time. I liked the first two a lot! -

- I met my boyfriend's family. -

- I introduced my boyfriend to my family. -

- I got the keys to my very own apartment. -

- I was kissed under the mistletoe. -

- I read 51 books! -

- I made adult decisions and it's actually working. It's terrifying, but I'm still going strong.-

This entire year has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. I made a giant leap and moved to Vegas. I've moved out of my parent's house twice before and failed both time. When things got hard, I'd just give up.

Things have been much harder this time. I'm six hours further than I was the other times. I had a much harder time finding a job. And even when I did, I was miserable going to work a good chunk of the time. But something was different. Even though things were awful, I still got up and did what I needed to do.

I've been here longer than I made it both those other times combined. And I just got the key to my own place. It's a tiny little apartment, but it's exactly what I need right now. It's a scary (terrifying) new adventure, but I'm feeling more capable than I ever have in my life. I can do this.

I've learned a lot about the world and about myself this year. These experiences, good and bad, have helped me grow so much as a person.

I'm excited for the new year, but I'm sad to see 2011 go. It was an absolutely incredible year.

Two Entire Years!

2011-12-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

I'm going to very honest.

I fail at blogging.

Way to go, Kate. Start a full time job and just drop off the face of the blog-o-sphere.

But I'm going to be honest about one more thing.

I've missed this so much.

Today I realized that this is Simply Kate's 2nd birthday!

I was so excited.

Until I realized that I haven't posted in nearly two and a half months.

Shame on me.

So let's count this as an early resolution. Simply Kate is BACK!

It's been a nice break, but it's even nicer to be posting again!

Happy second birthday, Simply Kate!

Here's to another wonderful year!

Some Kissin' in the Future!

2011-09-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Remember when I posted this photo?

Two and a half months ago?!

Well, I haven't seen this wonderful man since then.

But I will be seeing him tonight!

It's been too long! Can't wait!

I love you so much, Kevin!

We have a winner!

2011-09-25T00:22:00.000-07:00

We had a great turn out for my giveaway of the My Memories Suite software.

And we have a winner!

Congratulations to Emma!

I've sent you an email telling you that you've won!

And for all of you who didn't win, you can still use the Simply Kate promo code and get $10 OFF this awesome software!

Plus, it is good for $10 OFF anything in the My Memories Store!

STMMMS44607

So awesome, right?

Everyone's a winner!

Thanks so much for entering my giveaway everyone!

Leisl & Po

2011-09-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

LeiI just watched one of the best book trailers ever!
It's for Lauren Oliver's (Author of Delirium) new book, Leisl & Po. It looks incredible!

And even cooler is that she's giving away some Advanced Reader Copies on her blog!
You can go and enter the contest here! I know I did!

A few book reviews

2011-09-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Buy Prized Here:

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Buy The Adoration of Jenna Fox Here:

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Buy I Am Number Four Here:

Five More Days!

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hey hey hey!

There's only five more days left in my giveaway!

Be sure to go and enter to win a free copy of My Memories Suite!

It's free!

It's international!

It's awesome!

If you don't believe how crazy cool this program is, check out the latest page I made in this program!

I'm totally in love with program!

So go and enter the contest to win My Memories Suite! You have until midnight on Saturday, September 24 at midnight PST!

Also! If you haven't taken advantage of this offer yet, all of the readers of Simply Kate can use this code:

STMMMS44607

And get $10 off of My Memories Suite and also $10 off of anything in the My Memories Store!

That's AWESOME!

It's free for everyone to use!

And don't forget to go enter the giveaway! Only five days left to enter!

Loving Literature!

2011-09-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have a few very exciting things to mention!

One:

Earlier this week, I celebrated my channel 2 year anniversary on YouTube!

It was quite a party!

Two:
I finished my Summer 2011 Reading List!
My deadline was September 30th, and I finished early. There was a total of 21 books on the list and 7,969 pages read. I'm pretty impressed with myself.
(That's not counting the extra five books (1,842 pages) that I also read this summer.
You can check out the completed list here!
Three:
I have officially started my Autumn 2011 Reading List!
You can check that out here!
Four:
I've finally received my complimentary flyers from that giveaway I had last month.
I'm so excited about them!

I'm so excited to start using these adorable flyers in the books I read! They are blank on one side and are only 4x6 so I can easily slip them into library books with thoughts about the books I've read!
I think it would even be fun to stop into book stores (especially when I travel) to drop off a few! Who knows! Maybe one of you will find one in a book that you read! Keep an eye out!
I thought it was a great way to use my reward and get the word out about my blog.
So fun!
What's on YOUR fall reading list?

More Messing Around

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you missed it, I'm hosting this amazing giveaway right now! You can go check out details about how to enter HERE!

My Memories offered me a chance to review their software My Memories Suite and goodness, I am so loving it!

That's also what I'm giving away to one lucky reader!

Trust me, you better go enter because this is a program you definitely want to own!

And it's free if you win!

I spent an hour two tinkering around to make this page.

The goal for the day was to use as many embellishments as I could without making the page look cluttered.

So cute right?

I used the Morning Hush Pack from the My Memories Store!

So cute right?

It was so easy to place embellishments and I was so happy to find out that all of my existing digital scrapbook embellishments are usable in this program!

I'm loving this program more and more!

Be sure to go and enter the contest!

And as a special bonus, every reader of this blog gets an extra special promo code to use!

STMMMS44607

It will get you $10 off of My Memories Suite and $10 off ANYTHING in the My Memories Store!

Cool huh?

What is your favorite part of scrapbooking?

The Bright Side

2011-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be honest.

Working with kids isn't always a stroll through the daisies.

They may look cute and harmless.

But unlike daisies, kids are loud, chaotic and definitely don't smell like a field of flowers.

I come home from work every day absolutely exhausted and drained.

It's not all bad though.

When I get home, I get to tell everyone about the funny things my little kiddos do.

And something that's even better than silly stories.

Kids have birthdays.

And when they have birthdays, they bring yummy Sesame Street characters for me to munch on.

Elmo came to see you!

There's only one thing better than looking at this adorable cupcake.

And that was eating it.

I really like my job!

Giveaway by My Memories!

2011-09-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Guys! I've been given a fantastic opportunity!

I was given a free version of My Memories Suite!

Wait, you don't know what that is?

It's a program dedicated COMPLETELY to Digital Scrapbooking!

Needless to say, I am thrilled!

Cause I love Digital Scrapbooking!

This program is incredible! And that's saying a lot when you know how much I adore Photoshop!

I spent the afternoon tinkering around in this program.

Cute right?

It's officially one of my favorite scrapbook pages ever!

And it's even made with stuff I bought in the My Memories Store!

(The "Pretty In Pink" pack to be precise!)

And there are a couple great features to this program that I discovered!

1. There is an Auto-Mat Tool! If you want a simple mat on your photo, you can easily choose the size and color. And better yet! You can set it up so that every photo on a page has the exact same mat settings! AWESOME!

2. The Align/Space Tool! This was especially helpful when making the above page. You can line things up straight. And then you can space them EVENLY! I love this program!

There's bound to be other amazing things and I'm excited to find them out when I make more pages!

Now here's the exciting news!

One of you gets to win a free copy of My Memories Suite!

That's right!

Lucky ducks!

Here's what you have to do!

1. Go to the My Memories Website and tell me which item in their shop is your favorite in the comments!

And here's where you can get some extra entries!

1. Be a follower of Simply Kate!

2. Tweet about this giveaway!

3. Follow My Memories on their Blog, Twitter and Facebook!

(Each counts as a separate entry.)

4. Follow me on Twitter!

5. Like Simply Kate on Facebook!

Just be sure to use a separate comment for each!

This Giveaway will be open until September 24th at Midnight EST!

Be sure to enter to win this amazing program!

Also, as an added bonus to all of my readers! If you use this code:

STMMMS44607

You can get $10.00 off of My Memories Suite! And also $10.00 off anything in the My Memories Store!

That's $20.00 free dollars to spend on Digital Scrapbook stuff! Awesome, right?

It's only good once, so choose wisely!

Good luck everyone! This program is fantastic!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Incredible, clever, quippy, intense, lovable, funny, dark, exciting. These are just a few of the words that describe this wonderful novel!

Buy the Books Here:

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Prince

The City of Bones

The City of Ashes

The City of Glass

The City of Fallen Angels
GoodReads!

GoodReads!

2011-09-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm now on GoodReads!

Add me as a friend!
And join my new YouTube Book Reviewers Group! It's awesome!
Come join in the fun!

August!

2011-09-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

- 1st: Orientation at Kohl's. Thank goodness. I almost had to move home! -

- 4th: Surprising and exciting interview at Creative Kids. I was offered the position on the spot! -

-5th: Officially became a Nevada citizen. I got a NV Driver's License. -

- 11th-14th: My sister and her boyfriend came to visit! We had great fun playing games and chatting! Kristi also won 700$ playing bingo! Go Kris! -

-17th: Filled out paperwork for Creative Kids, quit Kohl's, gave GameStop my two weeks notice -

- 22nd: My first official day at Creative Kids! -

- 29th: Aly took me out to eat at Red Robin! Thanks! -

Happiest Memory:

- Getting Prized in the mail! -

Saddest Memory:

- Picture a mess of tears anytime I worried about money. Which was frequent. -

Favorite Food:

Raspberries! I've found a place that sells them fresh and cheap! It's awesome!

Books Read:

- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore - Decent. Not my favorite, but I did enjoy it after a slow beginning. -

- The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley - Wonderful! It's a reread, and it was just as magical the second time! -

-The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - Such a fun novel. It's meant for a younger audience, but it was still good! -

- Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien - SO wonderful! It was my first ARC, and it was amazing! I LOVED it! -

- Tithe by Holly Black - Good enough by the end, but the beginning was a bit too raunchy for my liking. I ended up pretty invested in the story though. -

- Book of A Thousand Days by Shannon Hale - Another reread. Such a cute story. Not my favorite of Hale's, but it's still a favorite on my bookshelf! -

- Capt. Hook by J.V. Hart - So clever and fun! I had so much fun reading this book again! -

TV Shows Watched:

- LOST - I got the urge to watch all the madness again. Still as confusing as it once was. -

- Chuck - Alyson and I have been watching it together. Man, I love this show! It's so quippy! -

Favorite Photos:

Overall Impression:

It always astounds me how the months with the least amount of highlights are the ones where I am the busiest. I've been working so hard these past two weeks and it's been very rewarding. And exhausting. Being an adult is super scary, and was very much on the forefront of my mind this month. But I think I did a pretty good job at keeping it together and sucking it up.

Entwined by Heather Dixon

2011-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Such a wonderful retelling of a beautiful fairy tale!

Buy Entwined Here:

BEDA Success!

2011-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well friends, August is over!

It's astonishing how fast this month went by now that I look back on it.

But as it happened, it felt like the longest month of my life.

But even still, I posted every single day of the month.

That's right folks!

I Blogged Every Day in August!

Feel free to go through my posts this month! I'd love to see what you think!

I'm even more impressed because I had so much drama with work and interviews and orientations and money. It's been a stressful month. And it was definitely a struggle to post every single day.

But I did it and I feel proud!

Now allow me to take a few days off! See you this weekend! I'll be a blogging fiend this weekend!

All About YOU!

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling very cut off from the world.

With my new job taking up the majority of my day, I don't feel like I have nearly as much time to blog and connect with all of you like I used to!

So this post is all about you!

Let's have a discussion!

I am going to ask you a few questions and then I want you all to answer them in the comments!

You can answer all of them, or some of them, or only one of them. I just want to hear your thoughts!

If I like the things you have you say, I might feature your comments right here in an upcoming blog post!

Fun right?

I think so.

Topic One: Where are you working right now? Do you like your job?

Topic Two: What are you reading right now? Thoughts? What books do you WISH you were reading? What are you all time favorite books?

Topic Three: How do you find time to blog when you are working full time? What do you blog about?

Topic Four: If you could pick one sandwich to eat for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

I'll answer all of these questions in a future post right alongside some of my favorite comments from you!

Let's hear what YOU have to say!

Hoping to Win an ARC

2011-08-29T00:20:00.000-07:00

Well hello, my friends.

Have you ever read a book that you enjoyed so much that you just couldn't possibly wait for the next installment to hit shelves.

Well, that's how I'm feeling about The Infernal Devices Trilogy.

Cassandra Clare is holding a contest. And one lucky person gets a copy of Clockwork Prince before it hits shelves on December 6th.

I want it.

Badly.

So I made this!

I think it's pretty darn awesome if I do say so myself. I spent a lot of time on it to make it look like it matches the other two.

What do you think?

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

A Day Off

2011-08-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

Never once in my entire life have I worked more than 32 hours in a week.

This week I worked 50.

And today was my only day off.

It's over way too fast and now I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Luckily, I really like my job so far.

I simply wish I could have another 24 hours to relax.

Oh the life of an adult.

Haunting: A Computer Story

2011-08-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure my computer is haunted.

It's filled with a friendly ghost, and I'm pretty sure that's the only reason why this old thing has lasted this long.

He takes care of things for me.

But sometimes, ghostie is a bit mischievous.

Shutting down programs when I haven't saved a project causing me to lose a LOT of data and work.

Holding my backgammon dice in a state of endless limbo, causing me to close the game and count my losses.

But last night was the first time that Mr. Ghost decided he wanted to be just plain mean.

I've started a new job. And for that job, I have to wake up pretty early sometimes. But I am a night owl and a sleep procrastinator by nature.

Last night, I went to bed a little too late.

I was finally exhausted and was falling asleep on my pillow when my computer roared back to life.

I pop up off of my pillow and look at the screen, waiting for it to update or something.

Nothing.

Just my desktop.

I groan and get out of bed and put it back to sleep.

I get back in bed.

And it wakes up again the moment my head hits the pillow.

Now, I know that I haven't been on my computer nearly as much since I've gotten my job, but my computer ghost friend had gone too far.

Three more times he did this.

I turned him off.

And I was spooked.

I didn't sleep well last night just waiting for the haunted HP to turn back on.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

2011-08-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Err, except that the winner won't actually get chicken. Unless they buy it themselves.

Sorry.

However!

Heidi is the winner of 250 flyers from UPrinting!

Congratulations Heidi! That art show you're going to promote is going to be awesome!

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

2011-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Amazing book by a wonderful author!

Buy Birthmarked Here: PreOrder Prized Here:

Giveaway! Giveaway!

2011-08-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Attention Everyone!

You only have two more days to enter this amazing giveaway!

You can enter on this post, or the original post!

One of you could be the winner of 250 Flyers by UPrinting!

These Flyers are awesome for so many things!

Promoting your Business (or Blog), Save The Dates, Party Invites, Announcements, Charity's, Special Events, and so much more!

You'll be able to choose between Two sizes:

4.25x5 or 4x6

They come in Thick, 14pt. Glossy Cardstock! (Front only printing.)

They have templates available for download for Businesses and Nightclubs!

They are prompt with your order too! A Three Day Turn-Around!

And the best part?

Free Shipping!

These guys are awesome and I'm so excited that I get to share this with you!

Here's how you can enter!

1. Leave a comment telling me what you would print on your flyers! (Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!)

2. Follow Simply Kate!

3. Like/Follow UPrinting on Facebook and Twitter! (Each counts as a separate entry!)

4. Tweet about this Giveaway!

Most importantly! Don't forget to come back and tell me about each thing you did so I can be sure you get entered!

You must be a U.S. Resident to enter. And you must be Over 18 as well.

The giveaway ends on August 26th, 2011! That's THIS FRIDAY! Don't miss out on this awesome product!

Good luck!

I'm A Reader!

2011-08-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I read a really wonderful novel called Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien!

I was so impressed that I had to send this wonderful new author an email.

And ever since, life has been full of wonderful surprises!

Like the day I check the mail and found this in the box!

That's an Advanced Reader Copy of Prized! The sequel to Birthmarked!

I've always wanted the opportunity and the honor of reading a book before it hits shelves and I was ecstatic to find this in my mailbox!

And did I mention that it was absolutely wonderful?

Stay tuned for the review in a few weeks!

But even more incredible are the sweet things that Caragh has done for me the past few weeks.

Yesterday, I checked her website and found this post.

I feel so honored to be mentioned and that she posted a link to my review of Birthmarked at the end.

Thank you so much Caragh!

Everyone definitely needs to read her novels as soon as they can! Fabulous!

First Day

2011-08-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

It's finally my first day at my brand new job.

I get to play with kids all day!

I'm nervous. Terrified even.

But I'm very excited!

I will be working full time!

No more worrying if I'll even be scheduled!

No more fretting (much) about not making enough money to pay rent!

No much uncertain hours!

And best of all! I won't be working retail on Black Friday!

I'm thrilled! And scared!

But it's definitely an improvement.

Wish me luck!

A Frosty Flashback Sunday

2011-08-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for another flashback Sunday, where I dig up an old post from the archives and bring it back to live.

This week has been one of the hottest since I moved to Vegas. So hot in fact that even the thought of leaving the nice cool air-conditioned house makes me cringe.

And then I stumbled upon this post. The photos made me feel nice and cool.

They also made me realize that I really hate the snow. And while Vegas is super hot right now, I won't have to deal with frost and snow much anymore.

Thank the heavens!

Doesn't it just make you feel chilly during this summer heat?

Check out the original post here!

I'm A Criminal!

2011-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Before you get your knickers in a bunch, no I didn't do anything wrong.

I did get a job though.

And the wild goose chase that is acquiring permits and licenses and cards so that I can work has been quite an exhausting run.

I've had to watch movies (sounds hard huh?) and get shots.

But the most entertaining part of the whole process was being processed by the police.

I had to get fingerprints done.

Even a mugshot.

It's all good fun.

I feel like a criminal.

Poked and prodded and printed and photographed.

Such a long process. But I'll actually get to start my job on Monday!

Full time baby!

And with all the run around, I sure hope this is the best job in the world!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-08-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I loved this book! Read it! Read it! Read it!

Buy Delirium Here:

Itty Bitty Kitty

2011-08-18T00:26:00.000-07:00

So guys, I have this cat.

She's insane.

I know that you're all thinking that you know a cat who is the most insane ever.

You're wrong.

My cat is the most insane.

She waits outside of the bathroom so she can hop up and watch the toilet flush when you're done.

She races you up the stairs and then pops out like she's trying to scare you.

She will be sleeping on your lap and the next minute she is running around the house howling at the top of her lungs.

She is always entertaining.

And she's stinkin' adorable too!

Crystal! 20SB Blog Swap!

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Guys, I have something very special for you today! My first ever blog swap!

Crystal is my bloggy partner and you should all go and check out her blog! (And my post, of course!)

Hi, Kate's readers!

I’m Crystal from Straight On Till Morning, Katie’s partner for the Blog Swap!

Although I'm living in Missouri (where I grew up) temporarily, I usually live in Florida, where I work for a Mouse, get paid to go to Disney World every day and am occasionally sent out to do very silly things like parasailing or riding in a race car.

(Yes, I totally blinked.)

When I'm not busy working for the Mouse, you will often find me playing in the theme parks or checking out local bands. I can’t wait to get back to Orlando and all of its sillyness!

Important Tip: Always befriend the band, then you never have to pay for drinks!

My blog is sort of a random hodgepodge of all of the things that catch my interest, from music to makeup reviews to tales of being a crazy cat lady.

One of my favorite features on my blog is a list of 1000 Things That Make Me Happy that I've been working on for quite a while now. (I'm up to 400!) I’m also working on telling the tale of “How I Spent My Summer Vacation Stalking U2 Across Canada”, which seems to be taking FOREVER to write! There’s also a pretty snazzy giveaway going on right now, which I’d be thrilled if you entered!

Occasionally I am super lazy and just post random things from around the Internets that amuse me. Like this:

I mean, come on, that's comedy gold and you know it. So stop by, say hi! I probably won’t even bite!

A Love Story

2011-08-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

One year ago, there was a girl who was so lonely and so unhappy.

She was stumbling around through life, trying to find some kind of purpose; a glimmer reason in the madness of life.

This girl still lived in her parent's basement. She didn't have a job. She didn't have many friends. And she was miserable.

One day, she wandered onto a chat room. The boredom that surrounded her pressed her forward and she decided to talk to some interesting strangers.

When she started chatting with Username: "Layne", she enjoyed the conversation so much that she eventually moved the chat over to MSN.

"SingingKate" and "Layne" had so much in common.

A love for Zelda and books. Music and movies. Guitar and drawing.

They talked until six in the morning.

Now, Katie had been down this road before. She had met a guy online and had really liked him. And when reality set in that it would never work out, it broke her heart. And while she told herself that she should delete this guy and move on, she signed into chat the next day and talked to this charming guy all day. And all night.

Kevin, which was his real name, continued to get more interesting and they talked every day for a week.

The two started playing Zelda together, chatting while they raced to finish it first.

Katie won.

They played another game.

Katie won again.

The weeks passed. And even though Kevin had started his fall semester in school and Katie started a new job, they still talked every day; spending more time on the computer than was healthy just so they could talk about everything and nothing.

Strangely, they never ran out of things to talk about.

By October, Kevin and Katie had played two and a half Zelda games. Had talked on Skype countless times. Had talked every single day.

And Katie was falling in love with this boy from California.

One day, she took a deep breath and told him so.

He wrote a smiley face emoticon and told her the same.

They sent texts, they called, they Skyped, they emailed. They did everything they could to talk to each other.

And Katie was starting to feel very happy.

But by Christmas, something was tugging at her, making her very upset and hiding all of the happiness in it's wake.

They still lived two states away from each other. They had never met. And she worried that she'd never get to kiss this guy that she loved so much.

The two came up with a plan. They would meet in Las Vegas. Katie would move there now and Kevin would join her as soon as he could. And they would visit each other until they were able to be together permanently.

And after eight months, they met for the first time in April.

And that first kiss was the best kiss she'd ever had.

Until the next one.

And the next one.

The times when they are apart are so hard, but so worth it when they finally are together again.

Now it has been a year since these two stumbled upon one another in a chat room.

So much has changed since then.

And what wonderful changes they have been!

Kevin and Katie are so in love. Kevin will be joining her in Vegas soon. And not a single day has gone by that they haven't talked to each other.

I love you Kevin! Thank you for an amazing year!

A Favorite Place

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Since moving to Vegas, I've discovered quite a few wonderful places.

But I think one of my all time favorites has to be the Library.

I know what you are thinking.

"Katie... You live in Las Vegas. There is entertainment everywhere! Why is the Library even on the list?"

Well, this library is just cool.

You stack the books you want to check out and the scanner instantly knows which books they are!

This library is one of many branches in the area. So if they don't have a book I want, they send it from somewhere else!

And it's got little snack bar too!

Coming from a small town, I'm not used to such technology or selection!

Without this wonderful place, I would have been very bored this summer.

What do you love about YOUR library?

Giveaway by UPrinting!

2011-08-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone!

I've been given a wonderful opportunity to host a most incredible giveaway!

One of you could be the winner of 250 Flyers by UPrinting!

These Flyers are awesome for so many things!

Promoting your Business (or Blog), Save The Dates, Party Invites, Announcements, Charity's, Special Events, and so much more!

You'll be able to choose between Two sizes:

4.25x5 or 4x6

They come in Thick, 14pt. Glossy Cardstock! (Front only printing.)

They have templates available for download for Businesses and Nightclubs!

They are prompt with your order too! A Three Day Turn-Around!

And the best part?

Free Shipping!

These guys are awesome and I'm so excited that I get to share this with you!

Here's how you can enter!

1. Leave a comment telling me what you would print on your flyers! (Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!)

2. Follow Simply Kate!

3. Like/Follow UPrinting on Facebook and Twitter! (Each counts as a separate entry!)

4. Tweet about this Giveaway!

Most importantly! Don't forget to come back and tell me about each thing you did so I can be sure you get entered!

You must be a U.S. Resident to enter. And you must be Over 18 as well.

The giveaway ends on August 26th, 2011! Don't miss out on this awesome product!

Good luck!

Picture Frames

2011-08-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to tell you all a little secret about me.

I hoard picture frames.

I see a cute picture frame, and I want it.

Even if I don't have any idea what photo I'll put in it.

In fact, it's so bad that I have to stay away from any areas in any stores that sell picture frames.

I'm a bit obsessed.

But who can blame me when something THIS adorable comes of it?

It makes me much too happy.

And also makes me feel justified in my obsession with frames.

Incarceron

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

I had flippy floppy feelings about this book.

Buy Incarceron Here: Buy Sapphique Here:

The Giggles

2011-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Goodness knows I haven't been the happiest of all the campers lately.

I'm sure all of my life bunkmates have been pretty tired my attitude over the past few months.

I know I have.

Luckily, there are things that can still make me giggle like a schoolgirl.

Heck, most of them make me laugh like a hyena at a comedy show.

- I started watching LOST again. It's so much more dramatic than I remember. I still love it.

But this scene made me laugh so hard. I watched it at least seven times! -

- The first time in ages that I've posted a post without photos and I lost a bunch of followers. I laughed. No worries though. They are probably the people who kill baby dolphins for fun. I don't want them and their porpoise murdering ways to taint my blog. -

- This photo. It made me chuckle. I thought I was so cool with my long hair. It's at least four inches longer than that now. (BTW, I still think I'm so cool with my long hair!) -

- My long, emotional goodbye to my old, dead laptop before I took it to get sold. Just to find out it wasn't eligible and Laptop Xchange wouldn't take it. -

- This song. But only for the Zach Galifianakis line. Every time I hear the song, I giggle. -

- I have two jobs right now. I'm hired at a third. And I'm struggling to make rent this month more than I have since I got here. The irony is pretty hilarious! Let's hope I survive! -

Life is funny? Don't you think?

My Own Crappy Portrait

2011-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

While blog hopping the other day, I came across this post on one of my favorite blogs. Busy Bee Lauren is pretty much amazing. Check her out!

In the post, she talked about a fun site called Free Crappy Portraits.

You send in a photo of yourself and a small description, and later they email you a really badly drawn portrait of yourself.

It's awesome.

And did I mention that it's free?

I sent in this photo of myself with this description:

I'm Katie. I breathe. I sleep. I blog. The usual. I also like to take photos of myself in tutus. Cause it's fun to act like a four year old ballerina every once in a while. S'all good.

And four days later, I got sent this awesomely crappy portrait! So much fun!

I think I want to be a guest artist now! So much fun!

Check out Free Crappy Portraits! Whole heck a lot of fun!

The Case of the Mixed Up Identity

2011-08-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Kathryn.

Or so she thought.

One day, she was going about her business when she was informed that her name was not actually Kathryn.

Not legally.

"What?" She thought. "How can that be?"

Somewhere in the hours after her birth, someone made a mistake.

And named her not Kathryn...

...But Katherine.

Now, you might not see a big difference when you read the names, but to Kathryn/Katherine, it was a very big change.

It changed her life!

She could no longer get a job without proper documentation. Her signature was different. She had to contemplate whether or not her entire life had been a lie!

If she had known what her true - legal - name had been growing up, how different might she be now?

Maybe she would be a professional singer, or an astronaut?

She will never know.

So now that she knows the truth, Katherine has adopted her new name.

But if she's honest, she misses the "ryn".

Good thing most people know her as Kate.

Okay, seriously though. I went to fill out paperwork for my AWESOME new job.

And they noticed what countless other employers have missed. Something I'd never even noticed.

The name on my Birth Certificate and Social Security Card wasn't Kathryn, but Katherine.

However, I've grown up spelling it Kathryn. And my Driver's License was spelled Kathryn as well.

Apparently the Utah DMV doesn't care if you spell your name the way it is spelled on your documentation either.

But my new employer does.

How is it my fault that someone mixed up my name when I was an infant?

Did they expect me to point out the mistake right out of the womb?

I didn't know how to read. Or spell my name.

Heck, when I heard my name, it probably sound more like the teacher from Charlie Brown was talking for the first few months of my life.

I blame the adults of 1989.

Yet. I'm still being punished.

They made me go to the DMV.

Living hell. Seriously.

I spent a grand amount of time going through the process of changing the name on my Driver's License.

I realize that it is spelled the correct (illegal) way on my Driver's License and I could have tried to change my Social Security Card to the correct (illegal) spelling.

But it was so much simpler just to adopt the wrong (legal) spelling of my name.

But I still feel a strange case of missing identity.

It's like finding out I have a long lost twin or that I was switched at birth or something.

Only... much less awesome.

Oh life.

Someday I will reclaim my name and my freedom!

The Curious Savage

2011-08-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about one of my favorite plays from high school.

And I realized that there was one more that needed to be shared.

So, without further ado...

The Curious Savage!

There is a mental institution named "The Cloisters" that is home to a bunch of lovable crazies.

Hannibal, who thinks he can play the violin, but really can't.
Fairy May, who thinks she's pretty but is really plain, desperate for love and admiration.
Mrs. Patty, who has given up electricity for lent, and paints seascapes that are anything but lovely. She also doesn't speak, unless to recite the things she hates.
Jeff, who alone survived an attack in the war and believes his face is scarred, leaving him too shy to play the piano.
And Florence, who believes a baby doll is her five year old child who died of measles.

But there is going to be a new patient in their wing, and the crazies are interested in finding out who!

The three Savage children...
Titus, a senator with a bad temper.
Lily Belle, a gorgeous 7-time divorcee.
And Samuel, a judge.

...are admitting their step-mother, who has recently gone insane.

(Hey that's me! I'm all old and stuff!)

Ethel P. Savage carries around a large teddy bear with one eye and acts like a fool in public. Which the well-to-do children do not approve of.

Hence why they are putting her away!

She also stole and hid ten million dollars worth of non-negotiable bonds from her children. But they don't know that. Yet.

But The Cloisters isn't all bad. There are quite a few nice people.

Like Miss Willie. The nurse.

She also happens to be Jeff's wife. But he doesn't remember her.

And Mrs. Savage quickly makes friends with the crazy inmates.

Hilarious antics are everywhere.

However, Mrs. Savage doesn't much care for her children.

But that's okay. They don't much care for her either.

Once the Savage children realize that the bonds, they come back in a hurry, desperate to find their lost inheritance.

And Mrs. Savage reveals that she buried it!

But, while she may act crazy, Ethel is quite sane. And she has a plan to make her not-so-lovable step-children look like the fools they are.

She leaves a note for Samuel telling him that the bonds are inside an old chimney.

She tells Lily Belle the bonds are hidden inside a stuffed porpoise in the natural history museum.

And Titus is told they are buried inside the President's hot house.

However, she reveals to the patients that none of these places hold the secret to the bonds. And they all have a good laugh at the rotten step-children's expense!

The very next day, Dr. Emmett comes to have a chat with Mrs. Savage. The newspapers are full of stories about her children. How a chimney fell on top of Samuel, nearly crushing him. How Lily Belle was arrested for trying to steal a porpoise from a museum. And how Titus was suspected of planting a bomb at the White House.

Needless to say, her kiddos are furious!

They threaten her with a truth drug.

But Dr. Emmett reasons with Mrs. Savage and tells them that she will give them the bonds.

But not before the adorable inmates jump in to save the day. And cause a little bit of chaos!

But Mrs. Savage calms the crazies, and pulls the bonds from inside of her giant teddy bear! Gasp!

But when Mrs. Patty turns out the lights, trying once again to give up electricity for lent, all hell breaks loose!

The bonds are gone! And so is Mrs. Patty! So, while they search for the missing bonds and patient, everyone else waits patiently.

Well, as patiently as crazy people can wait.

Mrs. Patty is finally discovered. Without the bonds.

But Miss Willie returns with a pot of smoldering ashes. And one corner of a flame touched bond.

They've been destroyed.

The Savages leave, distraught and penniless.

And Ethel is free to leave as well after Dr. Emmett decides that she no longer needs to remain at The Cloisters.

The inmates each give her simple going away presents. Pointless and ordinary to anyone but Mrs. Savage, who finds them each perfect and wonderful.

And Mrs. Patty gives Mrs. Savage one last gift.

She tells her she loves her even though she hates everything in the world.

There is one surprise left in this show.

The bonds weren't really destroyed.

Miss Willie stole them when the lights went out. And merely tore off one corner to pretend they were gone.

And like the sweetheart she is, she returns them to Mrs. Savage.

The play ends as Mrs. Savage leaves The Cloisters.

She sees each patient as they see themselves and should be.

Hannibal can play the violin beautifully.
Mrs. Patty hangs up a lovely seascape on the wall.
Jeff and Miss Willie sit together as he plays the piano.
Florence sits with her perfect little boy.
And Fairy May dance around the room in a gorgeous dress, looking lovely.

And Mrs. Savage leaves behind the bear, a reminder that though she may leave The Cloisters, her heart, and her insanity still remain.

Three Hundred Posts!

2011-08-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well folks! Today marks my 300th Post!

It's crazy to think that I've written so many!

But today also marks the day that I'm bringing back my favorite post resurrection feature!

So it just seems fitting to share my first landmark post. My 100th Post!

Here we go! (In no particular order) One Hundred things I like!

1. BBQ's

2. Doodling

3. Friends

4. Music

5. Sharpies

6. Kissing

7. Chinese Food

8. Hiking

9. Pillows

10. Theatre

11. Church

12. Mexican Food

13. YouTube

14. Blogging

15. Inside Jokes

16. Driving

17. Guitar Hero

18. Salmon

19. Video Cameras

20. Performing

21. Colored Pencils

22. Hand Sanitizer

23. Red Vs. Blue

24. Books

25. Computers

26. Lists

27. Sunglasses

28. Boy Meets World

29. Fall Leaves

30. New Clothes

31. Calvin and Hobbes

32. Dreaming

33. Halloween

34. Multnomah Falls

35. Sunflowers

36. Bulletin Boards

37. Cuddling

38. Glowsticks

39. MSN Messenger

40. Quilts

41. Sugar Cookies

42. Playgrounds

43. My Novel

44. Lord of the Rings

45. Indoor Plumbing

46. Homemade Rootbeer

47. Family

48. Dying Easter Eggs

49. Card Games

50. Camping

51. Zelda

52. Long Hair

53. Ukulele

54. Singing

55. Stargazing

56. Geometry

57. Raspberries

58. Fire

59. Pedicures

60. Cards

61. Chicken Salad Sandwiches

62. Dried Roses

63. Green Screens

64. Halo

65. Long Necklaces

66. Movies

67. Old Yearbooks

68. Scarves

69. Thanksgiving

70. White Board Calendars

71. Christmas

72. Mozzarella Sticks

73. Clotheslines

74. Photoshop

75. Eye Makeup

76. Roast Beef and Mashed Potatoes

77. Hot Dogs

78. South Park

79. Killer Bunnies

80. Losing Weight

81. Coloring Books

82. Water

83. Crying Laughter

84. Traveling

85. Guitar

86. Sunkist

87. Heels

88. Post Its

89. Orcas

90. My Cats

91. Long Earrings

92. Warm Summer Rain

93. Sudoku

94. Journals

95. Hot Chocolate

96. Soup

97. Roller Coasters

98. Fireworks

99. Decorating

100. Picture Frames

There you have it! One Hundred Things I Like!

What are One Hundred things YOU like? Write your own post and leave the link in the comments!

Personality

2011-08-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

I've noticed in so many of my recent posts that I've been holding myself back.

I only show the side of myself that I think is least likely to be made fun of.

Well today, I'm going to change that.

Today I'm going to show off my goofier side.

This is me!

I sing Broadway songs at the top of my lungs when I'm home alone!

I smell my hair when I think no one is watching!

I make stupid videos for YouTube!

I pretend to be a Hip Hop dancer!(I don't have swag.)
I read books aloud! With all the appropriate voices and accents!
I hate seafood. Salmon is my favorite food ever!
I take photos of myself so I can Photoshop them!

I have conversations with myself in the mirror!
I can make an accurate elephant noise!
I try on an ugly piece of clothing when I shop because it makes me laugh!
I have personality!
And I love it!
What makes you goofy?

The Seer and the Sword

2011-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful book! Read it! Read it! Read it!

Buy The Seer and the Sword Here!

Thieves!

2011-08-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon something today that made my mouth drop open in shock.

Does anything look familiar? No? Let me help you.

It's the same girl!

Thief! Thief!

(Let's not mention that I have no idea who this girl is, and 'borrowed' the image from Google for my own purposes.)

But still! Jorra doesn't have flaming hair! Jorra lives under the water! Flames and water DON'T mix!

Sad.

I know that this was just the cover I created two years ago. And I know that if I ever get published, this won't be the cover they use.

But I feel so violated.

I like my cover better anyway.

Jorra could totally kick this 'fury' girl's butt! Fury is too feminine and soft. My Jorra would totally win in a fight.

I kinda want to read it though... You know... Just to be sure...

Disney Princesses

2011-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

The other day, while stalking people on Twitter, I came across a link that @lissawrites posted.

I'm a big ol' Disney fan. And when I saw that there was a site where I could create my own Disney Princesses, I jumped on the band wagon!

Check out the site here! It's so much fun!

Because I've always wanted to be a Disney Princess, I started by making one of myself!

Looks just like me, huh?

And once I realized how addicting this program is, I knew I needed to create Jorra, my novel's main character! I love that I'm now able to better visualize certain scenes!

There's a fun feature where you can put your princess creations in book form like an illustration.

So I did this with Emma. A character from another story I'm working on.

It's even fun to try and recreate some of the iconic Disney girls!

Go check out Doll Divine and try it out yourself! It's totally addicting!

Blog Everyday in August

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

I participated in BEDA in April.

But I've noticed that quite a few people also participate in BEDA in August.

I had a lot of fun blogging every day in April this year and I'm excited to challenge myself once more.

However, it's going to be a lot tougher this month.

I was unemployed in April. And now I have not one, but TWO jobs.

It's going to be a struggle sometimes.

But my blogging has been neglected lately. Maybe three posts a week at most. Sad.

So I'm excited to try this.

However, I'm sure I'll get stumped at some point.

Is there anything that YOU would like to see on Simply Kate?

Any suggestions would help me get through this month!

Thirty-one consecutive posts! It's going to be exciting!

July!

2011-08-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

- 1st: My sister and I drove the nine hour trip to our home town. -

- 2nd: Played games at my aunt Shaneen's house with the family. -

- 4th: Happy 4th of July! The day started with a parade and ended with a BBQ, family and fireworks. -

- 5th: Hopped in the car for the drive back to Vegas. Nine hours is much too long. -

- 8th: Kevin gets here for his 8 day visit! -

- 8th-16th: Kevin and I did so many things over these 8 days. Like swimming, movies, walking the strip and more. You can check out the full list here! -

- 13th: Interview at Kohl's. Cause I need me a second job! Also, happy birthday Dad! I love you!-

- 16th: Kevin leaves. I cried. A lot. -
- 25th: My sister took me out to eat at Red Robin. Good food! Good company!

- 27th-29th: Stress beyond belief. So glad that lifted a little. -

- 29th: Got the job at Kohl's! Yay! -

Happiest Moment:

Any moment with Kevin. There were so many. If I had to choose. The end of day one of his visit when we realized that we still had seven days left. That was a good feeling!

Saddest Moment:

A toss up between watching Kevin leave or finding out I might have to move home to live with my parents. Both were very awful. And both made me cry. A lot.

Favorite Food:

Chicken Fingers from Raising Canes. They are SO good. How have I missed out on these for so long?

Also, it's not food, but Raising Canes has the BEST Lemonade ever. Seriously. Try it. Now.

Books Read:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I think this was the fourth time I've read it. Kevin and I read it together. I love this book!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - So good! I almost passed this one up. So glad I didn't!

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien - I wasn't sure for the first few chapters, but I ended up loving it!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - A wonderful prequel to the Mortal Instruments series! I love Clare's books!

Entwined by Heather Dixon - So cute! And surprisingly nail biting! I loved it!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - Read with Kevin. Loved it just as much the third time. He loved it too!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson - Took much longer to get through than it should have. I didn't love it.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Still not thrilled with it. I'm not as numb and exhausted as I was when I first read it. Thanks for reading it with me, anyway Kevin.

New Movies Watched:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - Wonderful! It was fantastic! Alan Rickman's performance was the best part!

TV Shows Watched:

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Definitely one of the best cartoons out there, if not one of the best shows period!

Favorite Photos:

Overall Impression:

The month went from very busy to very very very slow. And all of that down time made me feel very down. I'm feeling much better now. Things are beginning to work themselves out. At least a bit. It's going to take some hard work on my part. And I'm excited to get my hands dirty in August.

Sunrise

2011-07-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been really scared lately.

Every new day just brings me closer to the unknown and it terrifies me.

I wake up exhausted and worried. My heart feels constricted in my chest and every beat feels like a struggle.

I am afraid.

I took a drive before sunset this week. I just needed to get away from everything.

I cried when it started getting light out because it signaled one more day where things might not work out.

But the sunrise was full of fire and hope.

It was beautiful.

How can I dread something so gorgeous?

I'm terrified. But the days are going to keep passing by whether I want them to or not.

And I might as well try to enjoy each day as it comes. It does me no good to dread it.

What happens happens.

Maybe the result will be beautiful.

I can't tell in the darkness. I need to wait for sunrise.

The Eyre Affair

2011-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since I moved, I haven't been able to get my green screen to work just right. I'm trying to fix it!

Buy The Eyre Affair Here!

Writing

2011-07-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a lot lately.

As you may have noticed.

And with every new story, chapter and word, I am more and more impressed with these authors who are able to create such articulate and captivating stories.

The people who sat at their computers, typewriters or notebooks through countless rewrites and edits.

These writers who persevered as they got rejected by publisher after publisher until they finally got their book in print.

And every time I think of their achievements, I look over to the manuscript that is sitting on my bedside table.

It has been almost a year and a half since I last touched it.

This work of fiction that I was so proud of, so dedicated to, just faded out of my life.

Today I picked it up and read the first chapter.

I had a pen in hand and slashed it to shreds.

I made notes in the margins.

I corrected grammar and punctuation.

I scribbled on the pages until they were full.

And I'm not stopping now.

I'm determined to see my novel on shelves someday.

(Though, sadly not in Borders. Rest in piece good friend.)

I'm going to be an author.

Just you wait!

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

2011-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a really fun book right now. Entwined by Heather Dixon.

It's based on the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Brothers Grimm.

When I realized this, I instantly wanted to read it.

Why do I have such a fascination with this tale, you ask?

When I was sixteen, I was in a musical production of the story.

(The Twelve Princesses and the meddling fairy/storyteller Gwendolyn.)

It was a hilarious retelling of the story featuring a whole mess of goofy characters, dialogue and songs.

The princesses names for example:

January. The eldest. With a heart as cold as ice.

February. Who was dangerously in love with herself.

March. Mild one moment and raging the next.

April. She cried. A lot.

May. Innocent and ridiculously happy.

June. Always the bride.

July. Hot. Smokin' hot.

August. Or, Gus. Training for the Olympics.

September. Very studious. A total bookworm.

October. A jokester. She put the trick in trick-or-treat.

November. Had an insatiable appetite.

December. The youngest and sweetest.

I played October. Cause I'm that awesome.

The princesses go through a secret passage in their bedroom every night; through forests of silver, gold and jewels to a magical ballroom where they dance the night away.

Leaving their shoes in tatters each morning.

(See? Tattered shoes.)

The King sends out a proclamation to all eligible men. If they can solve the mystery of where the princesses go every night, he can marry the princess of his choice.

Ooh look. Earl Robin of Williams is so funny and good looking!

It's love at first laugh!

Unfortunately, none of the princes are able to solve the mystery. The girls drug them. For every princess needs a mystery.

Good night sweet prince, and pleasant dreams to you.

Adios, au revoir, auf wiedershehen. Goodnight!

But because the suitors can't solve the mystery, the king tears all of the loving couples apart...

...and throws the princes in jail! Sad day!

But one handsome guy in an invisibility cloak does manage to figure out the secret.

(He loves January. He's toasty enough to melt that icy heart!)

Unfortunately, the evil shoemaker overhears the revealed secret and tells the king before Hugh McManly has a chance. That scoundrel!

He then uses this advantage to pick one of the princesses as his bride.

(I'm not very excited about the idea.)

(Bald evil shoemakers like to see the state of a girl's shoes before he chooses a bride.)

But he is foiled! Huzzah!

And the princesses give puppy dog eyes to the king.

(Please give our princes back. Please!)

King Gullible is an old softy and releases the prisoners!

Princesses:

"For by dancing our sleep we would lose,

All we need now's a bit of a snooze --"

Princes:

"Now let's set things straight.

You'll be staying up late.

And believe me, you won't need your shoes!"

(Scandalous!)

And they all lived happily ever after!

(I give you full permission to mock how awkward I was as a teenager.)

This was probably the best show I've ever been a part of. Oh all the memories.
(Except maybe the one where I played an old lady. But that's a a story for a different day.)

What are some of your favorite memories from high school?

Do you have a favorite Brothers' Grimm fairy tale?

And be sure to check out Entwined by Heather Dixon! It's really awesome! The review will be up in a few weeks!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

2011-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

This book is wonderful and has such an inspiring message.

Buy the book: Buy the movie:

Picture Perfect

2011-07-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

Aren't flowers simply gorgeous? I think they might be my favorite subjects.

What is your favorite thing to photograph?

This is my entry for FTLOB's Picture Perfect Challenge! If you like this photo, I'd love it if you voted for me!

A Couple of Notes

2011-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dear book lovers,

For all of you wondering if I gave up on filming book reviews, I want to let you know that I haven't. With travel and visitors and losing my voice, it's just taking me a while to get it done. I like making book reviews! I just want them to be good. And distractions and raspy voices don't help. I have FIVE books I'm going to review at this point. But it might be more while I wait for my voice to return. Thank you for being patient!

Kate

P.S. I've started thinking about which books I want to read this fall. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Raising Cane's,

Holy cow your lemonade is good! Just thought you ought to know how utterly refreshing it is in this Vegas heat. Thanks for hydrating me!

Slurp,

A fan

Hey Cold!

Where did you come from? I was perfectly healthy last night. I woke up this morning with no voice and a throat so raw, you'd think I'd gargled with saltwater and razor blades. Go away! Don't make me sick my antibodies on you!

Fed up,

The girl whose body you've captured.

Lovely authors and publishers,

Please, please, please consider sending me Advanced Reader Copies of your books. It would make my day.You're all wonderful.

Anxiously awaiting every word!

Katie Weber

Best Week Ever!

2011-07-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

My wonderful boyfriend was here for an entire eight days.

This was the longest I've ever been able to spend with him, and it was completely wonderful.

And if it's possible, it broke my heart even more when he got in his car and drove away back to California.

I'm doing my very best not to be a complete emotional wreck right now. And I've found that if I focus on the amazing things that we did this week, the things that I loved; it makes it so much more bearable to know he isn't here anymore.

Favorite Moments and Memories

- The first kiss when I opened the front door -

- Watching one Harry Potter movie a night in anticipation of Deathly Hallows - Part Two -

- Reading all of the Hunger Games together. We read it out loud to each other -

- Going swimming in a fancy hotel pool -

- Walking the strip and exploring hotels we'd never seen -

- Tickle wars -

- Teaching each other card games that we love -

- Watching Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, a movie we both loved when we were little -

- Playing board games late into the night and laughing so hard at the silly things we said -

- Lots of kissing and cuddling -

- Cooking various food dishes: Breakfast sandwiches, lemon pepper chicken, taco soup and much more -

- Eating out at wonderful restaurants, and sitting so close together -

- Letting him give me my first hickey (he gave me two, the little punk) -

- Getting a hug when I was disappointed about the job interview I had -

- Playing through all of Yoshi's Island on SNES together -

- Watching Brian Regan comedy shows on Netflix -

- Listening to Disney music any time we drove the car, and singing along -

- Picking up job applications. Even though it was tedious, it was made fun because he was there -

- Reading most of Catching Fire before he left -

- Waking up to find that Kevin made me puff oven pancakes for breakfast -

- Taking a few pictures in the same place we took our first pictures together, in a graffiti covered underpass -

- The smell of Kevin. It's wonderful. (He sprayed cologne on my pillows before he left) -

- How sweet it was that he filled my car up with gas -

- Seeing Deathly Hallows with Kevin at the end of the week. It was an amazing movie, and seeing it with my Potter-fan boyfriend was wonderful! -

- The hesitation when it came time to say goodbye -

- And most of all, the multiple times when he told me how much he loves me -

It was an amazing week. And it was definitely over too soon.

I love you Kevin! Thank you!

Dear Me,

2011-07-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

What would you say if you were able to talk to your teenage self?

I wrote a letter a few months back to my seventeen year old self.

It was written as a guest post for another wonderful blog, but it turned out to give some incredible insight into my past.

I know my younger self will never read that letter, but my twenty-two year old self learned a lot just by writing it. I found that I am stronger than I think. That I've grown so much. That I am a wonderful person.

What would YOU say if you could write a letter to yourself?

I encourage you to try it!

And I would also love it if you checked out my guest post on the Hindsight Letters!

Excited? Yes! Very!

2011-07-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

My man is going to be here in an hour.

For those of you who are new to Simply Kate, I suppose I should fill you in.

I'm in a long distance relationship.

I met Kevin online back in August. By October I knew that I loved him.

And that thought was strange to me. I felt silly that I was so sure I loved someone that I'd never met.

We didn't officially meet until April.

This will be the third time that I get to see him. And for the first time, I get to have him all to myself for a whole week!

The first time, his parents came with him. (I think they were scared I was one of those scary internet killers.)

The second time, his friends brought him.

This time he's coming by himself. And I don't have to share him at all.

I am only a little selfish.

Long distance relationships are so hard most of the time. But the anticipation of seeing someone that you love so much after a month apart is such a wonderful feeling.

And that first kiss isn't so awful either. In fact, it's downright amazing!

Throwing open the front door and instantly feel his arms around me. Best feeling ever.

And in an hour, I get to have that moment.

I'm all giddy.

*Sigh*

I Love a Parade

2011-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July always starts with getting up a little too early and heading over to main street to stand in massive crowds in the uncomfortable heat.

It's one of my favorite things about the day.

Goofy little floats made by various groups lazily stroll through the middle of town while people watch and smile. People sell everything from soda to pets to the spectators on the sidewalks. And four jets fly over main street, making the ground rumble as they pass.

It's one of the best things about my favorite holiday!

What did you do to celebrate the Fourth of July?

This Blog of Mine

2011-07-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

I've had the opportunity to work on an awesome new project with two other incredible bloggers! Vic from Freckleupagus and Ashley from Ashley Plus Three!

This Blog of Mine is a full course on how to run a successful blog, tips on getting started and so much more. We're just a couple of ladies with strong minds and each new day we grow. I'm sure as time goes by, we'll be adding new things to the course, continuing to keep it updated and we'll use it as a learning experience for all of us. At the end of the day it's important to feel accomplished and proud. One of the main things we continue to express is to be YOU and to Love your blog. If anything, we hope you find inspiration, good advice and a long term commitment to your blog throughout this course.

There is a one-time fee of $30 that means you can come back to this e-course whenever you have a question. You can also call anyone of the 3 sponsors for additional help whenever you need it - this year, next year or 20 years from now. One payment makes you a life-time subscriber!

Sessions include:

1.) Why start a blog? we go over our summary of why you should/shouldn't start a blog and our top ten reasons to start one.
2.) Is blogging for you? we discuss whether or not blogging is for you and how to make it happen otherwise.
3.) What's in a name. how to choose the perfect name for your blog and why it's important to stick to these tips.
4.) We discuss the importance of networking and share our ways to utilize social media sites.
5.) Basic designs, image hosting and design sites.
6.) Html basics---it causes brain strain but necessary in running a blog.

7.) A look into your posts; covers adding photos, how to post on a day you don't feel like it, what you should post about, how often you should post and more...
8.) How to be a successful blogger; we go over the top 10 ways to be successful. we give you the run down on how to make your blog attractive.
9.) Ashley shares the perfect way to find your voice!
10.) We share our experiences on blogging with pride.
11.) There is a variety of Photography Tips separated into different posts giving you the basics from fashion shoots to taking good pics with your phone.
12.) Tips on Hosting a Giveaway (Bonus)
13.) Cliques! (Bonus) Yes, I put some drama in there. What's a blog without it?
14.) How to Vlog via Vlog- Made by me! I give some great tips on how to make your vlogs exciting and fun to watch! (Bonus)

15.) Love your Blog-this is a very short post but I think I get the message across loud and clear. (Bonus)
16.) Finding Inspiration-this post is about being inspired and being an inspiration. (Bonus)
17.) Healthy Promoting--we share the top 10 greatest ways to promote your blog without stooping to a level of Shameless Self-Promoting. I saved the best for last and think it's something that most people never think about doing.
18.) On following blogs, comments and more. (Bonus)
19.) Tips on how to post blog comments. No shameless self-promoting, you can get many more followers by being real.
20.) Blogging for Business and turning a personal blog into a business blog.
21.) Time is important and you need to have that management to be successful.
and more......

There are 50 posts -- straight to the point -- and we invite you to become a student. Whether you are a new blogger looking for direction or you have had a blog for some time and you may need that extra boost. Everyone will learn something new. If you don't have a blog yet---this is PERFECT for you!

You can still grab a button if you are not participating to help spread the word, we'd love to partner with you and offer you a link in exchange.

Testimonials

Jess said: "This was really a lot of neat and helpful info and I just want to thank you for taking time out to put it together. I'll definitely be applying a lot of it to my own blog and checking back for not only new info, but to keep the current info fresh in my mind!"

For more information, please check out For The Love of Blogs!

Fourth of July

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July is always one of the best times of the year.

That's probably because it's my favorite holiday.

Between parades and family, barbecues and fireworks, and friends and homemade root beer, it's pretty much the best time ever.

And this year is going to be just as incredible as every year before it! I'm so excited!

Have a look at some Fourth of July past!

It's going to be a great weekend full of sparkling festivities!

Have a great weekend!

What are your plans for the Fourth of July?

June!

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

- 10th-12th: Kevin came to visit me for the weekend! It was much to short, but it was pretty much perfect! -

- 18th: My wonderful brother-in-law's birthday! Happy Birthday, John! -

- 19th: Happy Father's Day, dad! You're the best father any girl could have! Thank you! -

- 26th: My cousin and her husband and adorable son stayed with us for the night. It was so fun to catch up and revisit old memories with them! -

Happiest Memory:

I went to pick Kevin up down on the strip where his friends were staying. I waited in an elevator lobby for him to meet me. We were talking on the phone, I turned and there he was. That kiss was pretty darn incredible!

Saddest Memory:

Dropping Kevin off in the exact same spot was really hard. Sometimes this long distance thing REALLY sucks.

Favorite Food:

Pancakes. Seriously.

Books Read:

Matched by Ally Condie - It was decent. The writing was a little shallow, but I thought it was interesting enough.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - So sad. So beautiful. The writing is simple, but really good and gripping.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - Disappointing. I was expecting something different. I loved the ending though!

The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley - A surprisingly WONDERFUL read! I loved this book from beginning to end! It was refreshing to LOVE a book after so many 'eh' books.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher - Interesting and original. I'm having mixed feelings. I liked it but still didn't feel connected to it.

TV Shows Watched:

Heroes - Season one only. It's the only one worth watching.

Glee - Season one as well. It was the only one on Netflix.

Medium - I've been watching it for months. Finally just got tired of it. It just stops being amazing after season 3 or 4.

Samantha Who - Hilarious and cute! I'm only halfway through season one.

Favorite Photos:

Overall Impression:

I didn't do anything too exciting this month. There were definitely some INCREDIBLE experiences, but it was just refreshing to have a month where I could just relax a little. I read a lot of books, watched a lot of wonderful shows, and just had time to myself. It was nice. I'm definitely looking forward to a few more exciting things in July!

Pretty Picture

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I snapped this photo the other day.

I wanted to share it, but couldn't figure out how to incorporate it into a post.

So it just gets it's own!

Have you taken any photos recently that you love but don't know where to post them?

Just give them their own post! Even if the photos don't go together!

And then come back and leave the link to that post in the comments! Because I want to see your lovely photos too!

Isn't photography wonderful?

A Favorite

2011-06-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my archives and found a post that I absolutely love. So I decided to bring it back to life.

I was doing this a while ago, and I'm happy to say that it will be returning every other Sunday!

Zentangles:

I've been doodling like a mad woman. I call it doodling, because that's what it is to me. It is doodling in a controlled, artistic format. And this doodle is called a Zentangle.

Oh my goodness. I first discovered these a about a year and a half ago and fell in love.

This was my first ever Zentangle. Like I said. It is just glorified doodling!

This one has things from some of my favorite books.

I love Zentangling because it doesn't have to be perfect. I messed up so many times in this one, but it still looks great!

I like to put my Zentangles in a circle shape. It gives me a set area to work with when I'm drawing. And I like the circles because I like to hang them up in my room. Like this:

Cute huh?

But you don't need to stick to the basic circle if you aren't into that. You can Zentangle however you want.

Here is one that I did for the Fourth of July!

And this started out as a complete scratch paper and turned into one of my favorites. I think she looks like a fortune teller!

If you aren't sure you can handle something this complex to start with, I recommend just drawing random lines and filling each in with a different doodle.

This one is one of my favorites. All I did was trace the outline of a CD a few times and filled in all of the blank spots. So simple, and yet so awesome!

And this one was done the same way. I just traced four circles. Think Zen Diagram Zentangle.

And for this one I just filled an entire piece of paper with circles and squares of different shapes and sizes.

Zentangling is so easy. Even if you don't feel like you have an artistic bone in your body, I guarantee you can do this. It just takes some patience and practice.

To start, I just outline a random design on a piece of card stock paper. I use a fine point Sharpie because it makes everything stand out so much better than pencil or pen! When you start, it will look something like this. A little cheesy? Don't worry, once it's finished, it will look awesome!

Every so often, I'll get in a mood to Zentangle and pop one out like a warm and yummy toaster pastry. And the past few days, I've been in a Zentangling mood! A few things have been getting me down, and losing myself in the small intricate doodles really helps me.

This one was signifying how I was feeling. The heart is black and hard to read until you get a closer look. Then you can see the ache that is there.

And while I was searching the internet for fun new doodles to use in my Zentangle, I saw a lot of people who incorporated faces into their designs. So I tried it. I LOVE how it turned out!

I am very thrilled with this one. It's my favorite of all time.

You should all try Zentangling! It's SO much fun! I would love to see any that you come up with!

Matched: Book Review

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love me a good love story!

Buy Matched by Ally Condie Here!

Stop

2011-06-23T08:00:00.001-07:00

Saturday was the first time in ages that I left my house for no reason other than to take pictures.

I've been rushing around so much that I haven't had the time or the gumption to get out and do simple things that make me happy.

Like take photos.

And what is even more sad. I borrowed my parent's beautiful, fancy camera, and this is the first time I've used it.

I've had it for nearly a month.

Sad.

So I've come to a conclusion. I need to stop going so fast and take time to do some of the little things I enjoy.

I've hated that I haven't had very many photos to post on my blog lately. I plan on remedying that as much as I can.

If I want to be happy, I need to stop worrying and make it so.

One little thing at a time.

Giveaway Winner

2011-06-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I'm here to announce the winner of my 400 followers giveaway!

Congratulations to...

Tara

You are the winner of a header and two buttons designed by me for your blog!

And to those of you who didn't win, I want to let you all know that I'm opening a shop. I will be selling personalized Headers and Buttons just for you!

All of the information is below and you can find it again in the "Design Shop" tab at the top of the page.

Just email me at katemichellouiseweb (at) yahoo (dot) com with your order and specifications. Headers can be ordered for specific dimensions. Tell me what colors you are looking for and the style of your blog. I want to make the perfect design just for you!

I will send you an invoice from PayPal once I have been sent your order specifications.

Headers:

With Photo: $20.00

Without Photo: $15.00

Buttons:

Square: $5.00

Rectangle: $3.00

(Dimensions are 250x100)

(Buttons do not include photos at this time.)

Bundles:

Bundle One: $26.00

Bundle Two: $21.00

I can't wait to help you personalize that wonderful blog of yours!

Dad

2011-06-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

My dad has always been my biggest supporter.
Whenever I have a new dream, he's the one that makes me feel like it's worth taking.
He helps me up when I fall down, and guides me back onto my path.
He's never once made me wonder if he loves me.
And it's because of these things, and more, that I love him with all my heart!
Thank you for always loving me, Dad.

I'll always be your little girl.
I love you.

Summer

2011-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

As I was growing up, there were a lot of things that I looked forward to when Summer finally came around.

No school. Sleeping in. Waterslides. Trampoline camp-outs.

But one thing that I always loved was our libraries Summer Reading Program.

There were activities and prizes that you could collect if you read books during the Summer.

I'm sure you've noticed that I've been posting about books a lot lately. Something about Summer makes me want to read. I think it's just been something that I've enjoyed since I was young.

And being in a place where I still don't know many people and the heat gets so intense that you don't want to leave the house for fear of heat stroke and dehydration, it's so nice to be able to sit in a comfortably airconditioned house and read a new book.

So I've compiled a list of books that I would like to read this Summer.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley

The Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Capt. Hook by J.V Hart

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

It's going to be an awesome Summer!

What are you going to read this Summer? Do you like any of these books? Do you not like any of these books? Are there any other books you'd like to recommend? Let me know!

Ender's Game: Book Review

2011-06-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Note To Self: Don't wear a jean jacket when filming in front of your green screen.

Buy Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card Here!

Kevin

2011-06-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

He's pretty much perfect.

Have I ever said that before on my blog?

He visited for the weekend and it was probably the most perfect weekend ever.

It was mostly spent at home watching movies and curled up together.

There is nothing better than watching Lord of the Rings and Star Wars with the guy I'm in love with.

His visit was much too short.

Watching him leave was so awful.

But knowing that I'll see him again in a few weeks makes it feel so much better.

I love you, Kevin.

Thank you for everything you do for me.

I can't wait to see you in July!

Harry Potter: Book Review

2011-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

It's about time I made this review.
With lack of time and green screen issues, this review took quite a while to get made.
Wonderful books. I wish I would have had more time to talk about each one.

Buy the books here:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
And remember to check out the "Books" tab to find out what I'm reading.

Wow!

2011-06-14T03:35:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I hit 400 followers.

That astounds me guys. You are all absolutely incredible and I can't tell you how much it means to me!

In thanks to all of you who follow me, I am going to have a little giveaway!

One of you will win a personalized header...

...and two buttons...

All you have to do to enter is:

1. Be a follower of my blog. This is a giveaway to thank my followers. So obviously if you aren't in that group... you shouldn't enter. (But if you want to get in on this action, just follow and problem solved!)

2. Leave me a comment telling me what you did over the weekend!

My posts about my weekend are coming soon!

Thank you again to my wonderful followers!

Upcoming!

2011-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those periods (not the bloody kind) in your life where you are just swamped and every free moment is dedicated to something unexpected?

Like travel and jobs and visitors and new projects.

That is my life right now.

Did I tell you all that my parents let me borrow their fancy camera for a month?

It's a Canon. With three different lenses. Very fancy.

I've had it for almost three weeks and I haven't even pulled the thing out.

That's how crazy my life is right now.

And my boyfriend is coming to visit me. He'll be here tomorrow! Gotta say, I'm really really excited!

I'm also very stressed.

As such, I'm going to take a break from blogging this weekend. I'm going to enjoy my time with my boyfriend and take pictures and do the things that I'm too busy to do.

But don't worry! I have a lot of great posts that will be coming your way starting next Tuesday!

Be on the lookout for these awesome posts!

- Book reviews for the Harry Potter series and Ender's Game in my typical video format. (And likely Matched. I'm almost finished with it.) -

- Photos and stories from my weekend with Kevin. -

- And even an awesome giveaway! -

Have a great weekend everyone! I know I will!

Beignets

2011-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have any of you ever had beignets?

(Pronounced ben-yays)

As soon as I found out that we were heading to Louisiana, this was on the top of my list of food that I wanted to try while in the Bayou.

We went to this adorable little coffee shop called the "Coffee Call" just for the Beignets. And goodness gracious! They were amazing!

Alyson and I got an order of Beignet Fingers because they were easier to share than the traditional style. They were so incredible and so messy!

If you are ever in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; The Coffee Call and their Beignets are a stop you should really make! The shop is so cute and the food is yummy and affordable! I'm definitely a fan!

Also, I just wanted to thank all of the people who left comments on my last post. All of your thoughts and kind words were very welcome and reassuring. I'm feeling quite a bit better about everything and I want to thank everyone because you all helped. Thank you!