...K8 is getting marrrriiiieeed. I can't believe the day is finally here. I am the Maid of Honor in my best friend K8's wedding tomorrow. (Read the super awesome engagement story here. Read about our dresses here.) I am leaving in a few to pick my parents up from the airport and head to North Carolina.



This is me and K8 our 1L year. Seems like decades ago.


And this is K8 and B. They are truly an awesome couple, and I could not be happier for them. I will post some photos when we get back. I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year.

I was one lucky duck when a certain childhood friend of mine made a stop at my house on her way back to PA school. Living alone can be well... lonely, and it is always nice to have company. We ordered food, drank wine, and somehow got into a convo about music we currently love. She exposed me to this man-gem. You will love. I promise.

with their engagement. I just think she is the cutest thing in the world- an almost royal, has-it-more-together Katie Holmes. What do you think?

Is sometimes a tough thing. Taking it gracefully, well, that is a skill. I love the following quote because it is a reminder that criticism is not necessarily a bad thing. And sometimes it is the best when it comes from our peers.

"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism." ~Norman Vincent Peale

Here's to learning how to take criticism with a nod, smile, and a little appreciation for the person willing to spend the time to give it to us.

...ly a licensed attorney! Hard to believe this day is here because it seems like yesterday I was starting law school as a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed little 1L. My fam is in town so it is going to be extra special. I actually have my first court appearance on Wednesday- nothing like I am jumping into it, huh? And here we go...

I am a sucker for finding talented musicians on Youtube. Not that I have any experience in the music industry, but I love a good cover of a good song. What I love even more is finding an artist who has great original work as well.

I had a few friends over recently, and I searched for karaoke versions of songs on Youtube. What I stumbled upon was this amazing young artist who deserves all the PR she can get. Here is her cover of The Fray- Look After You.




But what I love most about this musical prodigy is the fact that she goes out on the streets of England and plays to random people walking about because she wants a real audience.




I think she is awesome. Visit her here.

I actually passed the Bar. I found out Friday, but I am still in shock. Absolute shock.

I think Jessica has got it right. I may try saying this to myself in the mirror in the morning. Only I think I am too tall to stand on my bathroom counter. I also think my landlord wouldn't appreciate it.




I saw this at first at Sweet, Southern, Sassy, and Classy. Thanks girl!

You all probably remember awhile back when I wrote a post about redecorating my room. Well, finally, (probably more appropriately named) Slacker Kathy has time to unveil the photos:


I really love the pillows my Mom made, jobs so well done that I think she is fit for an Etsy shop (but then again I have been telling the seamstress this for a long time now). This is the front of the pillows:


And the back. She used the same three materials for both sides and the piping.

I wanted bright, happy, different, mix and match, and I think we achieved just that. What do you think peeps?

I just thought I should tell you because you would have no idea by my post frequency. I am super busy at work right now, and when I get home, the only thing I feel like doing is pouring a glass of wine and watching Chelsea Lately. Is it sad to say that I barely have the brain capacity left after a long day to even do that? I am outta "work shape." That and "wearing-heels-all-day shape." Oh yeah, and just outta "shape" in general-I learned that when I participated in this Marine Core Mud Run last weekend. It was nuts, people. I should dedicate a post to that run alone sometime later.

So anywho...stay tuned because I am going to show you all pics of my new room decor this weekend. I glittery pink heart the way it turned out. Until next post...

Tomorrow at this time I will be eating authentic gelato...in Italy. Fingers crossed that flying standby works out for me (meaning not only do I make it to Rome but that there is an empty seat in first class with my name on it- the benefits of flying on a buddy pass.) I will be spending a total of 10 days in Europa- a few solo days in Italy and a few days in Paris and Nice with my aunt. As my mom so accurately described my trip to the lady ringing us up at a used book store today, I am doing the Eat part of Eat.Pray.Love. Her inaccuracy is in what she failed to report-that I am also doing the Drink Wine part as well. I will be sure to upload some photos. Until then,

Ciao mi amici!

Well, actually, a bunch of changes. Besides what I have already blogged about-moving into a new house and being just weeks away from starting my career-a ton of other things are changing in my personal life. With all the big things happening in CTKland, I decided I needed a fresh start. I wanted a fun project in line with the change theme, so I am doing a little redecorating in my bedroom. Right now, my room is what you would probably classify as "shabby chic." Antique furniture, lots of paisley, and a mixture of pastel blues, greens, and yellows.

I have spent a few days looking for inspiration. Most of the rooms I am loving have bold colors and mixed prints. Lots of bright blue, green, yellow, and orange. Mixtures of floral prints, bird prints, and other fun patterns.














I also found some great duvets at Urban Outfitters.



And of course I perused trusty ol' Etsy for some bedroom decor. I love these pillows.




I also bought a ton of different pillows and shams at Homegoods that I am still deciding whether I am keeping them or returning them.


Clearly, right now I am all over the place with my color palette and style, but I will let you know what I decide. Have a great week!

A legitimate form of punctuation or a grammatical faux pas?

I have mixed feelings about the familiar dot and hovering straight line. I can compartmentalize my exclamation mark emotions into the professional and social settings.

In a social setting: I have a gender bias. When a guy uses an exclamation mark, I raise an eyebrow. When a girl doesn't use one, I think "wow, she is having a bad day." I try to use them sparingly, but with twitter, I find myself using a "!" at least once per 140 characters. Am I that excited? Am I really exclaiming something? Likely not, but sometimes a sentence just falls flat without a good ol' "!". Plus, everyone uses them so I don't want to be the girl that sounds angry, right? Apparently, I cave to exclamation mark pressure.

In a professional setting: This should go without say- No way Jose. As a newbie professional about to enter the workforce, I am fully aware that "!"s are a no-go. The only thing worse is a smiley face. I take that back. Use a winky face, and you might as well pack up your belongings and expect service of a sexual harassment complaint.

So just what is it about the "!"? (how is that for punctuation?) Are we texters/bloggers/tweeters/email & letter drafters just that much more excited than our predecessors or are we abusing the *shift + 1* key on our keyboards? Are you a victim of exclamation mark pressure?

I am attempting to stain a piece furniture. This is my first time, so I am trying it out on a bookshelf that a friend of mine made and sold to me for $10. It is just made of 2X4s, nothing glam, but I figure if I can stain it, and then cover the back with a fun fabric (so that you cannot see right through it), it will work great for a year until I splurge on some real furniture of my own.


I'll let you know how it turns out. Have you ever stained a piece of furniture?