I'm BACK!!!

I took an unintentional hiatus from blogging and I could make all sorts of excuses but that's not what we are here for... we're here for pictures and stories! : ) Yay!

This past weekend was my birthday and here are some shots from the walk that Reilly and I took at the forest preserve!

It was a really pretty sunny day!



I liked these because they kept moving back and forth so gracefully!


Blue and gold? I think so!


This stuff looked like something out of a fairytale!


Making designs in the black sand...


Metal work


I love this beard.


And wearing layers...


Happy Kate ♥

Inspiration 2011 continues

Today instead of fitness inspiration, I thought I'd bring some kindness inspiration!

This morning I read a friends facebook comment that wondered if postal workers were allowed to accept home made goodies in lieu of all the hard work they do. I thought, what a great idea! Though a large part of me thought... I don't have time to make cookies, I've got other stuff to do! I didn't think much more of it.

Later in the day, I finished a babysitting job, and picked up my friend Nina and we headed to the lake. The forecasters have predicted the blizzard of 2011 is happening tonight so we figured we would go check out the waves. After the adventure of finally getting all the way out there, we found that you couldn't even see the lake when you were standing right in front of it. So, we took a few pictures and headed back.









We stopped for a quick bite to eat and since the storm was picking up even more, I figured I should go get some groceries. So I headed to jewel to pick up some essentials for weathering a storm. Fresh fruits and veggies, good hearty soup and of course, hot chocolate! When I returned home I noticed that a street light was down on the corner and being the adventure lover/ding-a-ling that I am, I decided to walk the two blocks down the street and take pictures of it! I left the groceries in the car and headed for the corner.











As I made my way back to my car to get my groceries and head inside, I started realizing just how cold it was! I had water dripping off my face from the melted snow that was pelting me as I walked into the wind that made my eyes water and I couldn't feel any of it because my face was numb!
I grabbed my bags and headed inside when I noticed someone on the corner. It was 6:45 and our mail lady was still out delivering mail! What a day she must have had! I started thinking back to this morning and whether or not postal workers were allowed to accept food or beverages. I started to run down the block. (Which is quite a work out in boots, with wind blowing in your face and 4 very heavy bags in your hands.) I made it in the door, took off my boots and raced to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate! I happened to have some styrofoam cups in the pantry and so I ran back outside just in time to catch our mail lady across the street. I waited for her by the side walk and when she came out I yelled "I made you some hot chocolate" and she yelled back "hallelujah!" I told her I made it just the right temperature so she could chug it. I also said "Thank you for what you do. You are appreciated." I couldn't think of anything else to say and it was freeeeeeeeeeezing so I smiled, she said thank you and I waved and started to run back across the street. She yelled out "Its delicious!" and I gave her a thumbs up! My mail lady made my day! Knowing that I might have made her smile or feel appreciated makes me feel blessed : )

Rewinding to Africa

I went for a run in the freezing rain tonight to try and clear my head from all that's been going on lately, (or more like not going on) and when I got back I felt like looking through my Africa pictures from last year. Here's a few that really hit my heart

Epic Fail

So I left you all waiting and waiting and waiting for those german fest pics and never posted them. Unfortunatley, I can't help that right now but instead, here are a few pics from downtown the other night! I'll get the g-fest ones up soon!

da bean


I'm sorry, is this Chicago or Gotham city?

thoroughly enjoyed sitting down by the water



Last but not least, the harvest moon.
No that is not a speck on your screen, that little white dot under the moon is Jupiter. Awesome.

Maaaaaagrarita!

McDonalds, large black 6-10

Here are some edited pics from margarita night last weekend! It was impromptu fun! Though if I do say so myself, i make killer margaritas so if you're reading this, let me know if you want to come over for one and we'll make plans!





If pictures could talk, these would all say: "yeah Margarita night was pretty much the best night ever... AWESOME. YEAH!" (quote must be read out loud in a Ron Burgundy voice)

Why photos?

McDonalds, Medium black coffee 6 of 10

I love taking pictures. I think its mostly because I love to have physical things help me hang on to memories. You can look at a picture and remember exactly what you were doing and who was there. The picture can capture your feelings or even show feelings you didn't realize you had.
Somehow when you see something so beautiful and you can't have it or take it or touch it, if you take a picture of it, you can. Like a gorgeous flower or a beautiful sunset. You can't go around grabbing peoples flowers out of their yards but you can stop and take a beautiful picture of it. This is a flower I saw when I was out taking pictures one day. The colors were so warm and beautiful and soft. I imagined that the flower smelled like cotton candy and the perfectly sweet perfume that I am constantly on the hunt for. Though it did smell delicious, it was nothing like I imagined, but when I look at this picture, it smells like cotton candy.
To top it off, each picture is like its own little time capsule. It holds everything in the moment the shutter snapped. The exact millisecond. Like an old journal, when you flip back through old entries or pictures you're immediately there... sometimes, so strongly that you feel the emotions again: laughter, tears, joy, excitement, infatuation, relief or peace.
I adore old pictures and I treasure what they do for me. I can meet or get to know my ancestors or those who were taken from us too early. Some of my favorites are from my childhood, things i dont even really remember but love that I did.

I used to think that photography was a cheaters form of art. There is no paint, no clay, no pencil... but when i started to get into it, i realized it is grounded, organic, essential art. You have to have an eye for photography and understand your camera. You have to understand lighting and shutter speeds, movement and color.
I need to learn more.
Here are some of my favorites...










More to come, you know i couldn't just pick 5 but for now, they will do