Junior blogger TOTALLY breaks the age-barrier...

(The little lady front row, Bryant Park
for NY Fashion Week.)

For my fifth birthday, my celebration of being "half a decade" old, I was SO incredibly pumped to be able to help frost my own cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, to be exact. For this gal here, Katie, (and not quite the same Katie as here on [our] open door), she celebrated being five with a trip to Fashion Week. NEW YORK Fashion Week, might I add. SHE IS FIVE YEARS OLD!!
(Katie meeting Nina Garcia, Fashion Director for
Marie Claire magazine...)

My jaw dropped upon seeing this. Year Five of my life was truly about tag, pretending to be a kitten, and playing with my two best friends in private school. There was no place that I knew called, 'Front Row of a Very Impressive, Possibly Couture Fashion Show'; there was school, the playground, reading time in the library, and snacktime, that's it.

I stared and I stared, finally "Googling" the rest of the story. Katie actually does have a taste for fashion, even if her 'tastebuds havn't quite developed yet'.  She was sponsored by Racked National, and was really more of a joke than a serious seat reservation for a girl in pink and orange tights.

May have been a joke...but I took this all too seriously! I'm starting to think that this reaction is exactly what Racked National wanted to generate; fashion doesn't need to be serious, there's no need for an extensive college education on the theory of sweaters or even a crew of model muses, all you  need is appreciation for the art. We need to realize that fashion is an Art that anyone can attempt, if the desire is there. Katie did a great job of letting fashion-followers in on this vital life lesson. Have. Fun. With. Fashion.

Release YOUR inner five-year-old!

My Bracelets

There are certain things that outwardly display a person's character. If I have any outward display of character, it's my bracelets. I have seven bracelets that I usually wear and four of them I never take off.

Each of my bracelets tell a story. Starting from left to right:
1)This cool braided bracelet is one that I bought with my sister at Urban Outfitters. We're twins and we are completely opposite, but we bought these matching bracelets (hers is thinner and with different shades of blue) to always remind ourselves of each other.
2)The metallic bracelet was a gift from my godsisters in California. We never see each other, but I love that we take the time to send each other little gifts for little holidays like Valentine's Day and Halloween. This bracelet reminds me that there is always someone out there thinking of me, even when I don't realize it.
3) I made this black and brown leather bracelet at a camp I work at in the summer. I made this with my very first cabin and used it as a way to show my campers how to start and braid a diamond braid. It always reminds me of my campers and of the amazing week I had. I like that this bracelet is simple and unassuming;Sometimes, it's more about memories and the inside than appearances and that's what I learned from the kids at camp.
4)This is a hemp bracelet and it says F-L-K. This stands for "Fred Loves Katie." No, Fred isn't my boyfriend! Fred is a part of a retreat I went on with my junior class. At the retreat, we learn who Fred is (it's a secret!) and Fred presented me with this bracelet. It reminds me of the friends I made and my accomplishments on that retreat. I learned to open up to others and to recognize the hidden pain that others feel, and when I see this bracelet, I remember not to judge others on appearances.
5)This is a fun blue and pink vinyl bracelet. This was made 4 weeks after the black and brown bracelet, during my second week at camp. My friend and I were teaching to really young campers how to diamond braid, which is pretty difficult to explain to young kids using vinyl. Both campers kinda sorta understood it, but I found this vinyl discarded in the dirt later. Perhaps it was another camper or perhaps the little camper just couldn't get the hang of it, but I kept the vinyl and braided it up into a bracelet for myself.
6)This second hemp bracelet is my newest bracelet. A friend of mine came over to my house on a Friday, at the end of a long and busy 2 months and the beginning of a crazy weekend (crazy as in really busy...not like crazy party). I didn't really want him to come over because I was tired and already close to snoozing in front of the TV with my sister and another friend.But he persisted and he brought with him a big spool of hemp and tons of fun beads. We sat on the floor of my basement while my friend and sister slept and he taught me to make this cool hemp braid. We ended up braiding, talking and watching Forrest Gump until midnight. It, of course, reminds me of my friend, but it also reminds me that I need to take time to just sit and just be.
7) This last bracelet was from my parents. They bought it for me while they were in Hawaii and I was working at camp and it says, "Faith ~ Peace ~ Trust." To me the meaning is simple: People need to have faith and trust one another and peace will follow.

What personality traits do you "bear on your sleeve?" What interesting stories do your accessories tell?

Read. Think. Type. Rock.
-Katie

Interesting proposal

As a junior in high school, I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one.
The New York Times article about axing senior year

Life

I'm watching some Current TV and they're showing a documentary about blogging...how's that for the universe telling me to get back on here? I'm blogging to you now between loads of laundry, homework breaks and letter writing. My February has been a bet hectic; I've had a school retreat (a bit more on that later), a fair amount of schoolwork, and, drumroll please!, the opening of my very first high school production!

First, a bit about the retreat. At my high school (a Jesuit institution) we are required to attend this junior year retreat in order to graduate. The retreat, called Search, is top secret and I recieved plenty of "advice" to lead me astray. Reports of trips to the rainforest and suggestions to bring a spatula, bricks, and ten pairs of underwear rained down upon me in the weeks preceeding my departure. All I can say about the experience is that is was unbelievably changing. I feel not like a new person, but an updated version of myself. We're a Jesuit school, but the religious factor is more optional than steamrolled upon your consciousness. I grew closer to classmates I thought I knew and I truly found strength within myself. In order to preserve the clandestine nature of the events, I will refrain from saying more.

Next up on the docket: I am in a play! For the past few months, I've been rehearsing for my first role in a high school production. Thursday night, The Odd Couple opened with me as Cecily Pigeon, a charming albeit flirtatious English woman living with her sister in the same building as Felix and Oscar, the lead roles. I've always loved theater and film, but I've never before had the courage to be in a show. This year, my participation was mandatory as a part of a my Advanced Drama class and I chose to audition for an acting part (rather than backstage). My fear quickly turned into excitement as I began working with some great people and having a blast shaping my character. The show opened Thursday to a fantastic audience and, I'm proud to say, only one momentary panic attack on my part. Performing with others and feeding off the energy of the audience is an incomparable experience. I may not pursue acting as a career but now I know that I have the courage to submit myself to the judgement that comes from performing on stage and that I love the charge that comes from a good performance. We have a second show tonight and a third show Sunday afternoon and I cannot wait!

More to come from me later!

Read. Think. Type. Rock. Act?

-Katie

We are crafty people

Definitely inspired by Katie's craftiness, (very very cool headband, by the way!), and also a monster of a prom dress hanging in an old closet, I've finally decided to make something for myself.  I'm usually inspired by someone else to make something, asking myself, "What would THEY like?". But this time, I made what I wanted...and it was SO FUN!

I've had this crazy dress; a combination of white tulle, snow-queen, poufy sleeves, huge bodice, corset ribing, the works, for quite a long time. (I was very into playing 'dress-up' when I was a kid, you know, releasing my inner Disney princess.) One day, while on the treadmill, it just came to me. "BAM! I should make that into something USEFUL."  Here's what I came up with; a polka-dotted, scoop-neck mini dress...complete with lining make outta' old fabric napkins.

Recycling is fun. And it can look good too...:).

What other projects have we got going out there?

So good when its good

Yes - Those are cookies. Come on' now, wipe the drool off your chins and break out that box of left-over Vanilla Wafers getting stale in the back of your cupboards; its time to cook!

I remember it so well... It was around 11:30 pm and I was searching around the kitchen to find something, anything, to put in Nick's lunch. I even considered making soup from scratch! (My thoughts were definitely a little frazzled at such a late hour...) This little inspiration, a total desserty epiphany, was my saving grace.

These little bite-sized cookies are seriously one of the easiest recipes across the board. I'm not talkin' cuisine here, no Anthony Bourdain, Giada de Laurentis, or Bobby Flay-like skills needed. All you need are some 'Nilla Wafers and a bit of creativity.

I first used some leftover fudge I had made the weekend before. (I love cookin' up some sweet treats to spread out through my family...). The fudge inside these cookies melt so smooth, yet is able to firm up and hold together even after a rough beating in a high schooler's lunch box. Now THATS strength. To make about 10-15 sandwiches, I used:

3 pieces traditional peanut butter fudge

3 pieces traditional chocolate fudge

Around 30 Vanilla Wafers

Microwave

2 butter knives

2 small bowls

All you have to do: Microwave the fudge in seperate bowls. Once smooth, spread one flavor on one wafer, another flavor on the other, and sandwich them together! Refridgerate for a little while to speed up the 'holding' process. Yumm..I think they taste even better because they're so easy to make.

Now tell me, WHO doesn't like ice cream sandwiches?! Classic combination of chocolate wafer with smooth vanilla ice cream; will forever remind me of black fingertips and hot summer days.

These sandwiches, on the other hand, are all dressed up and ready to go. I must completely admit, Nick has developed quite the culinary eye and the hand for spreading sauce around a dish to make it look like it could cost more than the whole box of ice cream sammies. This recipe is TOTALLY his brain-child....and I love it.

This is another easy, simple, fast-fast recipe that is truly impressive. (And really good....)

Ice cream sandwiches, (1 per serving...)

Cheerios

Chocolate sauce

Whipped cream

After the ice cream sammy melts just a tad, and the sides become a bit melty, roll them in crushed Cheerios. The crushed cereal will automatically stick to the melting ice cream, giving you not only great decoration and visual appeal, but also a great, warm flavor.  To decorate and make it look fresh outta' the window of a 5-star kitchen, get creative with your sauces! Spread some whipped cream on the top of the ice cream, or even around the plate. Work with the contrast of the dark choclate and spot around the whipped cream.

That's truly the most fun when it comes to plating food, you begin to finally see how beautiful it can be.

What's a good recipe that YOU enjoy?

Art Alert!

Check out Kiel Mead. Kiel (pronounced "Kyle") is an up-and-coming, 24-year-old jewelry and furniture designer based out of New York City. Kiel started his design career with his awesome "keyrings", rings made from Mustang, Chrysler and other car keys. Mead's jewelry is crafted from mundane yet nostalgic items, from drill bits to lanyards to matchsticks and even chewing gum. Each piece is unique and carries it's own significance. His furniture is just as interesting, providing artful yet functional pieces for the home.

All I can say for myself is that I adore his forget-me-not rings (pictured above).In fact, one was recently spotted on none other than Taylor Swift. What do you think about Kiel's interesting art? Any artists/designers I should check out?



Read. Think. Type. Rock.
-Katie
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