Birthday Time!

 Happy Birthday Dad!

It's my Dad's birthday today...as I'm sure you've gathered.  He's pretty awesome...and was about my age in that picture. lol.  I really doubt he is aware of this blog, let alone reads it, but I love him so thought I'd share his birthday with the blog world.  :)

xo, kass

Friday Fotos: Senior Zach

My little bro is going to be a senior this year. Yikes. And, as I’m 10 years older than him I remember him as a baby...I mean I even changed diapers occasionally. It just makes me feel old, haha. Anyway, when the family came to town I took some senior photos for him. He was impatient and I was feeling rushed and the lighting was atrocious [blinding sun], but regardless of all this there are still a few I like. I figured I’d share those today and also inform you I plan on taking more for him [hopefully better ones] sometime this fall.

What a cutie,eh? Lol.  Anyway, I'm off to a fairly busy weekend.  Brian's BFF [lol, guys don't say that...] from highschool is coming to visit and we are celebrating Brian's birthday - which is in fact on Saturday!  He's going to be 28 [shhh, don't tell him I told you]!  Then on Sunday we are going to have an "English Breakfast" and watch the end of Wimbleton, woot!  Anyway...

Happy [early] Birthday Brian! Love You!

Have a great weekend everyone!

xo,kass

27 before 28 {resolutions}

27 before Twenty-Eight

My birthday was December 18th, so I decided to do this instead of New Year's Resolutions.  I like the idea of this better, because it feels more specific.  Instead of having a few broad ideas I have a list of specific things I'd like to accomplish this year.  On an important note, I borrowed this idea from Elsie of A Beautiful Mess {like every other blogger who has done this :P}

1. Lose 15 lbs {From 150 to 135}, keep it off.
2. Have a regular exercise routine!
3. Get my craft area/room organized.
4. Book and shoot 5 paying photo gigs {...this could be a long shot!}. Maybe just make it...photograph 10 new people!
5. Save $500 dollars. This might seem small, but I have a RIDICULOUSLY tight budget {because of stupid school loans} and I want it to be an amount that might, maybe, possibly be attainable.
6. Do at least one craft project each month!
7. Read through and do all the assignments in my portrait photography book.
8. Move in with Brian. :)
9. Stop using credit card and pay of ⅓ off balance.
10. Find the perfect modern retro coffee table.
11. Stick with my blog! Stop being a wimp and tell my friends and family about it.
12. Get abs/flat stomach.
13. Take a trip with Brian! {The Badlands?}
14. Work with Theo on behaving better. Get some training books or something. The barking and crabby attitude need to stop!
15. Try a new recipe once a month!
16. Grow out and then donate my hair! Do NOT color until donated! 
17. Be brave and get those “retro” frames you want! {warby parker}
18. Make a dress.
19. “Re Make” Blog. Logo? Headers for DIY, Style, Recipes, etc.
20. Read 15 books.
21. Take one “artistic” photo each week.
22. Go to a Wild game!
23. Celebrate 1 year with Brian - do something special!
24. Train for a 5k.
25. Take a dance class with Brian! Salsa? Swing?
26. Create a photo book. Theme: Iowa Barns [inspired by my grandmother]
27. Purge all closets. I have too much stuff.

Anyone else have resolutions of any sort?  Also, look for a holiday update later this week!

Happy Monday!

Birthday Girl :)

Yes, today is my birthday. How old do you have to be before you can act all offended when someone asks your age? I don’t think I’m quite there yet, plus I doubt I’ll ever be offended by that question. Go ahead and ask me, it’s okay, promise. … I’m 27! Last year, I thought hey I’m just barely over 25, no biggie. This year I feel like, oh man ...almost 30! Obviously, I’m not almost 30 [unless your gage of “almost” is 3 years], but that’s the next “big” birthday and it just feels so close.

I generally a very reflective type of person, especially on my birthday. However, I’m going to try to spare you some of that and just say a couple things...well really one thing that sums up a lot of my reflection. It’s interesting to take a moment and think about where you’ve been and where you are in life. Especially, when you compare it to what you thought might happen or how you thought your life might me. Beware though, this can be a potentially dangerous thing to ponder, but I’m eternally optimistic, so I wasn’t too worried.  In conclusion to this thought, I will say that if you had asked me 10, heck even 5, years ago I wouldn’t not have guessed I’d be where I am today. My life may not be what I had once envisioned, but I’m okay with that. Happy with that actually. All of my choices have led me to this moment in my life and I feel really good about that in itself. Life really is what you make it and I’ve made a pretty awesome one. :)

On a lighter note, last night Brian took me out! We went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie [I love me some Robert Downey Jr.!] and then out to dinner at the Italian Garden. Not the same as Olive Garden, lol. WAY BETTER. It’s what I would call “real” italian food. I had calamari, yummy shrimp pasta and tiramisu!  Then he took me out for martinis!  Great guy right there! :)  Oh!  And for my bday gift he got me a new flash for my camera - for real, great guy!

yummy calamari!

tiramisu!

 martinis!

Hope you had a great weekend!
Kassie

Birthday Shopping Trip

We have lots of great traditions in my family and this past weekend we did one of my favorites...Birthday Shopping!!  You see, every year my grandmothers and my mom take me out shopping for my birthday [which just happens to be exactly one week before Christmas...yea.], so that they can get me things they know I will love and that fit!  Here's a little glimpse of what I got. 

*One note, the polka dot shirt on the bottom left I actually got in blue.

Birthday Gifts by kassienichole featuring black heels