August Word of the Month: Organized

August 2, 2016

hey all!
summer has been great, but my organization over these past two months has been very bad.
so I hope this August is…

organized

I mean I’ve been working and I have been making my bullet journal and using my planner to track my sleep, water, exercise and khan academy homework (thank you school for giving me due dates along the way!)
but other than that I am so unorganized… I mean when I make plans with friends the plans are practically changing up to the minute. And when I get home from work I am not good anymore I just roll onto my bed and watch Netflix and eat fatty foods.
and my room, oh I need organization in there most of all…

how will I try to be more organized this month?

well, I created a little printable (which you can find here) so I’m gonna use that and put it on my whiteboard right by my door. I am gonna spend 10 minutes before I go to bed planning out my next day. I don’t know really if my plans will stick, but hey it’s a start! I am also planning on buying a bunch of clear plastic totes for organizing all of the stuff in my room so I know where/what everything is that I have.
so i hope you enjoy! if you have set a word for your month or an intention please comment down below! i wanna see what you are up to!
xoxo
(aka kate wins!)

fab five

July 2016: Fab Five "Shoulder Show"

July 7, 2016

hey all!
i hope y’all had a great 4th of july since i didn’t mention it last post! but its finally july, i don’t know whether i should be excited because summer or scared because school starting, because both are impending! so who knows!!
but today i wanted to share a special more concentrated fab five, i wanted to specifically show off “off the shoulder” tops/rompers/dresses.
shall we get started?

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Madewell ‘Balcony’ Eyelet Off the Shoulder Top -$88, I absolutely love the detailing on this shirt, the delicate eyelets pair perfectly with jean, no wonder madewell made this top!
Nasty Gal Hang in There Off-the-Shoulder Top -$48, i think this is a really cute simple top, since its white it can be paired with a cute pair of my favorite gap patterned shorts or even plain bright colored shorts!
Asos Denim Bardot Off Shoulder Dress With Ruffle -$56, i REALLY like this dress, i love the fabric and how it flows, also that light wash denim is very popular in summer! I can imagine this dress being perfect for all your summer gatherings!
Nasty Gal Dahlia Off-the-Shoulder Top- $38, i am easily going to admit that this is my favorite off the shoulder item i have seem. as i said before that light wash denim!! just *SWOON!* perfect with a pair of white jeans or shorts. I own this shirt and absolutely love it!
Wayf Stripe Ruffle Off the Shoulder Dress- $64. i think this is a perfect casual off the shoulder item for summer, it looks lightweight and cold be worn over a swimsuit!!

well all, i hope you enjoyed!
xoxo,
kwe monogram (aka kate wins!)

Uncategorized

Update with Kate: My Day in LA

July 5, 2016

hey all!
so a few weekends ago i got to experience a very LA day, and i visited west hollywood. to give you context that is the area of melrose-ish nice area with great restaurants, shops and more. so today i want to share with y’all some of my pictures and what i did that day!
lets get started:
first, my family and i took a trip to the shake shack

here is my food with my new phone case! so in case if you don’t know what shake shack is its an east coast burger chain with ONE LA location, so naturally we had to check it out!
my review: i had the season “white cheddar burger” and their famous crinkle cut fries, and let me just tell you…YUM!! this is so good, and saying this i am not a burger fan, like i would way prefer some new york style thin crust pizza over a burger, but this is one of the best burgers i have had. and fries are basically my specialty and should i even dare to say that i liked the shack’s fries better than in-n-out, because personally i think they are WAYY better!!
on to the next spot, since we were in the area we stopped down in melrose:

i told myself i wouldn’t be basic… yet i so am. you probably know where i am, and if you don’t know where i am you have been living under a bridge for awhile man. i am in front of the ICONIC pink wall of paul smith in LA. basically everyone ever takes cute and trendy photos in front of it, basically add me to that list!

because i cannot apparently stand with two feet on the ground :))

and i visited nasty gal!

i really couldn’t help myself, i was determined to take a mirror picture with an entirely mirrored dressing room , and i absolutely LOVED some of the off the shoulder tops they had at nasty gal, and they may be featured in my next fab five ;))
next we went to alfreds tea room in melrose

which i did talk about in my post about my summer bucket list!! which you can see here: and anyway, i got a iced matcha latte with almond milk which was a real winner in my book !
i also did a very LA thing which is finding these amazing painted walls and going for photo shoots…

this wall is by an artist called RETNA and features unique script lettering, it can be found West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, fair warning it is on the back of a parking structure so its a little difficult to find.
so i really enjoyed that!
then we visited sockerbit (which i mentioned in my bucket list post)

man no candy will ever live up to how good this is, because of its all natural ingredients its just trumps all!
and my 2nd place winners (aka i visited on a different day)

i visited the churro borough, this is a small batch ice cream shop which makes these absolutely AMAZING ice cream sandwiches. huh? well what makes them so special?

the cookie part is a churro! and you would be skeptical about this but walk out wanting more like my whole family!
well i hope you enjoy this picture post! comment if you have tried any of these places or are looking forward to trying them!
xoxo

(aka kate wins!)

pictures

Update: My Summer Bucket List, COMPLETED ITEMS!!

June 30, 2016

hey all,
do you remember a few weeks ago when i posted my summer bucket list?
well today i am very excited to show you some of my completed things, so here we go:
here was the whole list before:

go to sockerbit
make homemade pasta
try out different local yoga studios (to find a perfect fit for me!)
go to katsuya
complete my first round of college prep testing
visit disneyland
go to diddy riese
run a blog giveaway
try to get out more often with friends
go to perch
go swimming!
watch fireworks
go to alfreds tea
visit la flower mart
try to take more pictures
go to cafe gratitude
organize my closet and get rid of unnecessary clothes
get my makeup organized
go to gracias madre
stay a weekend in newport beach

and here is the list now:

~~go to sockerbit~~
make homemade pasta
try out different local yoga studios (to find a perfect fit for me!)
go to katsuya
~~complete my first round of college prep testing~~
visit disneyland
go to diddy riese
run a blog giveaway
try to get out more often with friends
go to perch
~~go swimming!~~
watch fireworks
~~go to alfreds tea~~
visit la flower mart
try to take more pictures
go to cafe gratitude
organize my closet and get rid of unnecessary clothes
get my makeup organized
go to gracias madre
stay a weekend in newport beach

okay, so i got some finished, and since i promised that i would write a post on the ones that i finished here we go:

so, sockerbit:

a few days ago, i went down to west hollywood for some adventures (post on my whole trip to come soon!) and knew i needed to visit sockerbit. for those of you who do not know what sockerbit is, its a scandinavian candy store on west 3rd street by the grove shopping center. first of all, their candy is made with high quality ingredients so its free of transfats, has colors from nature and is free of genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). and just let me tell you, this candy is heavenly!
2. finish my first round of college prep testing!
yay!!!! i finished, i took the ACT and the SAT for the first time cold, and am right now just waiting it out for scores and doing summer homework.
3. go swimming:

okay, so fun fact about kate time, i HATE swimming. like with a burning passion, maybe its cause i have never been a great swimmer. but i just hate getting my hair full of chlorine and feeling prune-y fingers and toes, i just find it disgusting. and when my friend invited me to her house so we could go swimming, my heart wanted to say no, but i typed yes, i mean, i wanted to see my friends and if this was the only way i would do it. i guess you could say i “jumped into it”.
4. go to alfereds tea

so pretty much if you are not an california local you might now know about alfreds coffee, well, its a really popular coffee place in LA and is very trendy. recently they opened a little tea place called alfreds tea room. i mean i am a fan of coffee, but i have always been partial to tea. so i decided to check it out. and it was great, I am a matcha connoisseur to say the least, i have been in love with matcha for years (as you can see in this post) and this place really hit the spot, and it was just beautiful!
well, i hope you enjoy this post on my bucket list, i am looking forward to finishing up the rest and showing you how i enjoyed them!
xoxo

(aka kate wins!)

fashion

My New Favorite iPhone Case

June 28, 2016

hey all!
today i am bringing you a lifestyle / fashion-y post! its more lifestyle-y because of course a lot of people have iphones, and its fashion-y because of course the case is so cute! so without further ado, i want to introduce you to my new favorite iphone case!

i am absolutely in love with my jimmyCASE! i have the iPhone SE / 5 / 5S Wallet Case with Card Holder, in the Pink and Gray Stripe with the White Bumper.
and basically today i am just going to talk about my favorites specs on this case…
– well, first of all its made in america! and you cannot say that about many products, and the shear quality of this product shows really, i cannot tell you how many times i have dropped my phone while wearing this case, and as you can see, not even as much as a BUMP or SCRATCH appears. so i really can attest to the quality of this product that is made in america.

here is my phone case again at lunch with me!

-another aspect i absolutely love about this case is the wallet pocket. this case is not bulky like a typical wallet case, and it doesn’t have that pesky cover that blocks your screen or camera. instead, this case has a little elastic stretchy pocket where you can easily slip a few cards and cash in to just take without a purse, or just for easy access. i really do find this case much easier when i am just running to the market to grab something because i just slip a little cash in and don’t have to lug around a purse all the time. also i just love the pink and gray colors together on this product!

-my other favorite aspect of this product is the durability of it. as i mentioned before, this has no bumps on it, but i never explained why. well, jimmyCASE uses premium products of the mahogany on the case (a design that I absolutely love). the maghogany really is not just a cool accent the purpose is to keep the phone safe which i can attest that it really does keep the phone safe! and this case is so affordable, at a sold $39 anyone would be a fool not to buy it!
well, i hoped you enjoy this post, make sure to check out jimmyCASE on line by going on http://thejimmycase.com!
xoxo
kwe monogram

(aka kate wins!)

interview

Khat with Kate: Citrus and Style

June 26, 2016

hey all!
i’m feeling the heat today, and california is definitely way too hot! to keep myself from dying from boredom and heat exhaustion i have a special surprise!
today i have another installment of my interview segment with
*drumroll please*

Caroline from Citrus and Style

and since i love her blog so much, i really wanted to ask her some life related questions and some blog related questions, and of course her answers are in pink!
so here we go:
-When did you start blogging?
As a freshman in high school! It’s crazy to think how much my blog and I have grown over the past four years.
-How did you get into blogging?
I started citrus & style on a total whim because I needed a creative outlet for all these ideas I had been storing in my head. Going to a private school, I was pretty stressed out and needed a way to unwind and re-inspire myself. I remember writing my first post (How to Personalize Your School Uniform) and was immediately hooked on being able to share what I love with others!

Why do you enjoy blogging?
Like I mentioned before, blogging is a way to inspire myself and feel productive doing something that I truly love. It’s so incredible to get to form friendships with likeminded people from around the world and work with brands with pieces I adore. Not to mention, it’s a way to earn money in a way that is really fun for me!
-What do you like to do for fun?
I love exploring new areas of town with my friends whether it’s a cute café for brunch or a new hiking spot along the lake. Working out is something I genuinely enjoy so finding fun ways to shred some calories with friends like biking across town to shop is great as well!

-what is your favorite social media platform for showing your blog off?
Instagram is the easiest and most visual way to show aspects of my blog, so I would have to say that would be my favorite platform. However, I personally love Pinterest the most because creating organized boards for different topics is perfect for a Type-A person like myself!
you can find her instagram here
and her pinterest here
-what would your advice be for other bloggers? what would your advice be for bloggers looking for getting into the game?
If you have enough time to start a blog and think you would be passionate about running one, I say go for it! I had no idea what I was getting into when I launched it as a freshman in high school, but maintaining citrus & style has given me so much purpose and inspiration in my life (as cliché as that sounds!). Consistency and content are key in my opinion; you want to make sure you are posting regularly and that your content is enjoyable for your demographic. One quick trick is to make a list of 50 post ideas to see if you have enough content to start a blog. I also recommend avoiding any paid site design services in the beginning because it’s crucial to be able to learn how to work everything on your own!

hope you all enjoyed this post as much as i enjoyed interviewing caroline!
you can check her blog out here or by finding http://www.citrusandstyleblog.com
xoxo

(aka kate wins!)

wanderlust

Summer Sandals

June 23, 2016

hey all!
its far into summer now, and i felt like i haven’t done many summer style posts, and i have really been wanting to do one, so today i am sharing some cute summer leather sandals.
i have been REALLY liking these tan leather sandals because they are perfect to pair with shorts and different colored dresses and even a pair of black leggings. i’ve been doing my research to find cute summer sandals that aren’t too expensive.
so here we go:

Lands End Laced Gladiator Sandals: $40, these lace up the whole leg, they would look great with some j.crew shorts or these ones that i love!
Massimo Lavinia Slide Sandals: $20, these are a simple shoe FROM TARGET!!! that are just really cute, i love the detail in the front with the straps, and this would really look great with any white (or other colored) summer dress.
Billabong Seaing Double Sandals: $45, i also LOVE these sandals from billabong, they are the perfect summer sandals, they could honestly be worn anywhere from beaches to the country club.
Billabong Crossing Over Sandals: $30, these are perfect and i really love the white detail on it, it would be a perfect fit with a white dress or a little swim cover up.
Jack Rogers ‘Maci’ Flat Sandal: $137, okay so these are a BIT more expensive!! they also jack rogers though, so it actually makes sense why they cost a little more then usual, but they are really cute and would be perfect for special more fancy occasions.
Aeropostale Circle Perforated Flip-Flop: $8, i just think these are really simple and cheap. they are perfect casual shoes.
Aeropostale Crochet Strap Flip-Flop: $13, i really LOVE the details on the straps, the simple white “crochet” (i guess) and i totally think that with a little t-shirt dress these shoes would really shine.
Steve Madden DONDDI Sandals: $59, i really like the simplicity of these shoes, i think that the color is just perfect and screams “SUMMER” good to dress up or down, and i can attest to the quality of steve madden shoes, i absolutely love these!

hope y’all enjoyed!
xoxo
(aka kate wins!)

Uncategorized

Organization During Summer

June 16, 2016

hey y’all,
whats up?
i feel like dora omg, waiting for your response. so basically when school ended my life exploded you know, in a ball of fire. when this happened, i was just relaxing, reading me before you (which is a great book btw) and i asked my mom what day it was, because i honestly didn’t know what day it was.
it was thursday….already thursday and i hadn’t done anything that i wanted to accomplish, but i had watched a lot of once upon a time, enough for two curses to be broken (and if you know how much that is…its a lot)
tumblr_mytgy3mf4p1sm8s7ro1_500
so i decided to get this together, get myself together, I logged onto my computer, went on indesign and create this…
Screen Shot 2016-06-13 at 10.42.08 AM
which you can download here : blog_weekplanner_download
if you open the link, you will see my week in review schedule.
i have been putting this on my dry erase white board / magnet board in order to schedule myself out as well as reminding myself the dates.
IF YOU WANT ORGANIZATION, download and print this pdf, you’ll love it!
hope you all use and enjoy!
xoxo
kwe monogram (aka kate wins!)

what I'm loving

June: National Dairy Month

June 14, 2016

hey all!

so did you know that june is national dairy month? well i didn’t until a few days ago.

strange it seems, well why june? i have no idea! but i have a very interesting relationship with dairy…

now, i will tell you something , i am an (self proclaimed) ice cream expert who is lactose intolerant. NOW THIS IS AN OXYMORON, how can i love ice cream and not be able to digest it (i have no idea) there is something called self control (which i don’t have) but i have learned to suffer the consequences and just not care!

so in honor of national dairy month, i will be sharing 5 lactose free ice cream or sorbets, lets get started:

#1: Clean Eating Pineapple Dole Whip:

have you ever been to disneyland or the dole plantation and had one of these beauties? well its basically magical pineapple frozen yogurt (WITH NO DAIRY!) one of the favorites things that i can make at home (easy usually takes about 5 minutes or so) and is so natural!

i especially like this recipe for dole whips from Dashing Dish

#2: Peach Sorbet:

i love the taste of peach, like what is better than that! well in this dairy free number from Martha Stewart, you get the magnificent taste of this fruit without the consequences of regular dairy peach ice cream!

this recipe is so fresh (and so easy) and is sure to make your taste buds sing!

#3: Melon Sorbet:

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this is not the traditional watermelon sorbet, but this looks great (seeing as i haven’t tasted it YET) the best trick about this recipe from A Beautiful Mess, is that no machine is necessary which means you don’t have to buy another appliance just to make ice cream!

#4: Sorbet WITH ANY FRUIT!!!:

2014-07-14-Sorbet-21

this recipe made me so excited when i first tried it, i mean i am naturally a fruit-y flavor kind of girl rather than tradition flavors. my family and i love this recipe base, and we have made it with Roasted Apricots and Watermelons. AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, the roasted apricot sorbet that my family makes is the absolute BOMB, and i might just be willing to share the recipe soon!

this is a great base from The Kitchn

#5: 5-Minute Healthy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt:

best-frozen-yogurt-recipe

you may have seen this on pinterest before, seeing as it comes up on my feed all the time, but this looks great! i have yet to try this but it seems very simple (and honestly VERY delicious) and i know i know, this recipe has yogurt in it, but i do as i would do anywhere else, just modify get lactose free yogurt and i am sure this will be just as good!

anyway! i hope y’all are having a great day!

xoxo

kwe monogram (aka kate wins!)

Uncategorized

Father’s Day Gift Guide

June 12, 2016

hey all!

did you guys know that next sunday , june 19th is father’s day! well this is kinda a late post, so here is my last minute father’s day gift guide.

here we go:

well I hope that you enjoy my little father’s day gift guide post!

xoxo

Tag: preppy

August Word of the Month: Organized

organized

how will I try to be more organized this month?

July 2016: Fab Five "Shoulder Show"

Update with Kate: My Day in LA

Update: My Summer Bucket List, COMPLETED ITEMS!!

My New Favorite iPhone Case

Summer Sandals

Organization During Summer

June: National Dairy Month

Father’s Day Gift Guide

welcome!