LIFE LATELY

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Happy Friday Guys!!!

It's been very nice being back on the blog scene these past

couple of weeks. Not only have I been more visible here, but 

I feel like I've been out and about more IRL---or 

when I'm home I catch glimpses of me.

Here's what I've been up to: (L-R)

one: thumbing through Oh Joy!'s book makes my inner Martha catch fire. 

I have a few DIY interpretations inspired by her DIY's coming up in a

bit so stay tuned. 

two: Le hub and I celebrated our 4 yr anniversary at the beginning of June

and to "celebrate" we kept it pretty low key with a day date in Decatur.

We grab a bite at Souper Jenny's, shopped at local boutiques & grabbed 

a scoop (2 actually) of theeee best ice cream at Jeni's. Easy living.

three: I have recently sworn off purchasing editorials to combat my 

hoarding ways, but I couldn't resist Issue 9 of Porter Magazine 

featuring Joan Smalls on the cover. 

four: So if you've read previous posts, I am having some what of 

an artist metamorphosis.  I will be introducing new items for the 

Summer in a week or so and am really excited about 

how authentic to me the product is. 

five: I have been eyeing this boho bucket bag  for ages,

 but just didn't want to drop the money for a cloth bag.

(even though it is breathtaking) 

Well, Anthropologie is having there 50% off sale on sale merch

and guess what was included? Ding Ding Ding!!

six: Let's just say it is Summer vacation and me and the mini troops 

are spending A LOT of time together. SAHM you feel me?

It's always great to laugh it up with my bestest girl.

We have been indulging in tons of crafts for AG dolls

and focusing on esteem building to prep for the 2nd grade. 

I hope you all are doing amazing! If you haven't already 

go ahead and update your bloglovin subscription with the 

new blog address and visit the left panel for all the

ways you can stay up to date with all that's going on with 

me. 

Until next time!

xo, 

Kel 

DISCOVER ME : METAMORPHOSIS

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To say that I am undergoing a change is somewhat of an understatement.

I think it all...actually I know it all began when I went from 

working full-time in a cube to working full-time from home and 

giving birth to my son. Events of that magnitude can do that to a person. 

As they should.  As you should let them. 

I am welcoming it....now.

I say that with a tone of acceptance because there was tons of resistance.

Tons of push back from the creative and young spirited part of me

that just wants to be 21 forever. But that is not the case. 

With 30 around the bend, I have breathed the sigh of all sighs...

acceptance. A total surrendering to that part of me that has been 

bubbling at the rim waiting to tip over the edge.  That part 

of me that wants to create more than just...what I have done...

See more. Hear me. Be more. 

It is surely a process...

But as the metamorphosis occurs

I hope that it is accepted more as a journey as opposed to change.

I hope to have your excitement, along with your patience as 

 my brand and I evolve. 

Until next time. 

xo, 

Kel 

UN-TAMED

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Some serious hair crushin' going on in the grouping above huh?!

So over the weekend I did something new. 

Not as drastic as sky diving or anything, but definitely equally as freeing. 

I styled my natural hair. 

(ahhhh. For those that are natural, you know what a huge deal the first time is) 

If you have been reading for a while, you know that I have been 

transitioning. (Growing out my chemically relaxed hair) 

There have been several reasons I haven't done this before. 

1. I'm too busy--Levi doesn't give me much free time these days to primp. 

2. I was scared.--I typically wasn't involved with the wash & 

style process since I decided to transition, 

so the dual textures made it difficult to handle on my own. 

3. I was worried.--More so of how I would look afterward. Would my husband still 

find me attractive. (He is a hair guy and has always fawned over my long locks).  

Will my style 

have to change to fit into the #teamnaturalista / 

#curlygirl / #curlyhairdontcare / #straighthairisforwimps mold? 

Do I have to change my persona to fit in those molds that I have

never really wanted to fit in the first place?

So many insecurities. 

It's funny how you an get so trapped in a box of your own emotion and ideals for yourself

and lose out on full on awesomeness by being safe...all the time. 

That is what my relaxed hair was/is. Safe. 

And I have completely released myself from the need to identify myself with one 

specific group. I have always strayed from the pack, so why would that change now.

I guess I assumed that growing my hair out was some how conforming 

to a new normal, but in actuality it wasn't. It was something I have always wanted 

but never had the patience, schedule, time, or resources to complete. 

Now I will have the versatility I have always wanted, plus more. 

I won't get too Iyanla here, but I will say that I am quite happy with the direction 

this is taking. --Kel

*all photos were aquired via Pinterest

WORRY WART

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Our enemy is not lack of preparation; it’s not the difficulty of the project, or the state of the marketplace, or the emptiness of our bank account. The enemy is resistance. The enemy is our chattering brain, which, if we give it so much as a nanosecond, will start producing excuses, alibis, transparent self-justifications, and a million reasons why he can’t/shouldn’t/won’t do what we know we need to do. --discovered here

 The last 9 months have been...a doozy. While, I have been fortunate enough to stay at home during my pregnancy and in tangent, work on the development of my business, I feel as though it was a full 9 months of time that wasn't used properly.  I can attribute the majority of those sentiments to sincere feelings of lethargy and grossness from the pregnancy. But a lot of time "wasted" came from fear that I talked myself into.  Now coming from the rigidity of art & design school, I definitely have developed long lasting pattern of over working & cramming until I physically can't muster up the breath to continue. I can say I apply a heavy amount of pressure on myself to achieve A, B, & C, when it might not be necessary. So my scale of work versus not working versus laziness is slightly skewed.

But, yes...I talked myself into not completing projects, answering emails, creating new items or just plain old growing out of fear of losing/winning/wadding or all of the above.  I would concoct excuses that were so ridiculously unnecessary and so obviously...stupid (for lack of better words) that now that I have regain all my energy and lust for life back, I scoff at my, dare I say it, laziness. 

And that is exactly what it subconsciously transformed into, without me speaking it aloud, but simply practicing the shrug off, the eye roll, the anxiety, the procrastination... nothing was more important or therapeutic than a nap. Ugh writing that makes me feel terrible, but it was and is still slightly my truth.

So as I am in the healing stage of my post-partum journey and staying off my feet is a must,  I am working on rehabbing my thought processes.  Weeding out the need for Z's and couch sessions and mustering up a list of tangible goals that won't scare me under the covers. Literally.  No not resolutions, but practices that will and HAVE TO actually stand firm and take root in my life. Bear with me as I, and possibly this and other platforms evolve. Besides, would it technically be a blog/business/life if it remained the same?

--Kel

CREATIVE BLOCKS

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discovered here

The other day I was in total funk.  I sat down to work, but found myself 

uninspired and cloudy. Kind of like those Jimmy Dean breakfast commercials.

(I was the blue rainbow) 

Everything I put together was wrong and I couldn't think 

of an alternative route to something magical. 

It has been a while since I felt this way but I had to dig my way out. 

My solution that works every single time without fail:

Shut Down and Log Off. 

Yes, I turned my phone and my computer off. 

My eyeballs occasionally feel like they are zinging and are on the brink of

oozing out of my head from "researching" too much and too long. 

If your mind is overloaded, simply unload and find a way to decompress.

Finding the quiet in a storm (aka an active household) may be tricky at times,

but you definitely have to flex to make peace work with your living situation. 

Scoop up all of the candles in the house, shut off the lights and take a shower.

Maybe bake some gooey cupcakes, or give yourself a sparkly mani/pedi. 

Hell do all 3 if that's what it takes. 

I'd say workout out but I can't even manage the flight of 16 or so stairs I have to 

climb to get to our front door. Maybe in a few months or so.

Just focus on preserving your sanity. In the creative industry that is the most

important thing. So tell me, how do you keep from poking your eyes out when 

your going through a creative block?--Kel

**image edited for ATD by KCL

SCAREDY CAT

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discovered here

Have you ever called yourself on your cowardliness?

I have been doing that a lot lately.

Mainly because I have a lot of going on that is beyond my control. 

As the weeks wind down, I have been finding myself a little 

scared about not only the delivery process, but life after with two.

People have been very coaxing, telling me how awesome 

it will be due to the fact that I waited [5 years] to have another. 

That Chloe will be a helpful and it will "all fall into place." 

I am just hoping that I will remember what to do. 

Aside from remembering the essentials (i.e. changing diapers, carrying, nursing)

I want to have the same amount of patience I had the first time around. 

My life and living situation was completely different. 

I was in my childhood bedroom, single, 22, and  hanging on to the hippie in me. 

Now I am a wife, developing my business, 27 and still trying to hang 

on to my youth for dear life.

Balancing a home and the emotional contentment of two other 

people is not the easiest job, 

so adding another tiny being that has not an earthly idea

of what to do just feels overwhelming. 

Thank goodness they pop out with cute toes and faces to add a 

buffer to the noise/late nights/ physical pain.

Are any of you going through major life transitions and finding yourselves 

a little apprehensive?---Kel  

**image edited for ATD by KCL

DISCOVER ME

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Happy Friday Babes and Beaus!!
So today has been pretty chill thus far. 
I am wrapping up some loose bits before the weekend. 
The loosest bolt: Me
I went for a mani/pedi early this morning and had an epiphany. 
It was great to take care of myself. 
If you know me, you know that I am frugal and am a DIY type of chick with everything. 
Beauty needs included. 
It has been almost a full year since I "pampered" myself. 
Since being pregnant and not being able to reach my feet as easily, 
I figured I would make this more of a priority. 
Even though my husband never says anything about my "relaxed" look
I am sure that he will appreciate some pretty feet to look at while I
loaf around. 
Do you ever get into a funk and forget to maintain? What do you 
guys do to keep your inner chick alive and well?

I hope you have a magical and happy Friday. 
Plan something great to make yourself feel 
renewed and amazing over the weekend. 
Cheers!--Kel

DISCOVER ME / 4

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I thought I'd keep it light on this round of Discover Me

and just dish out some unblog tid bits. 

If you haven't heard of "unblogging", it's basically

not possessing typical blogger-like characteristics

 for starters:

1. I don't really like macarons. There. I said it. 

I like the chocolate ones, but honestly the others are just pretty to look at. 

gimme a hot chocolate chip cookie or a brownie and i'm won over.

2. I don't have a single Beyonce song on my itunes... yeah...not a fan. 

I will leave it at that before I get burned at the stake by her following.

But I love Solange!! Hey SoSo Hey!!!!

3. My house is a friggin mess...when I shoot anything, I have to stop and 

clear a space so laundry, cups, or mail piles are in the background. 

4. I buy Chloe's clothes from Target most of the time. 

She's an active kid and I would hate for her to ruin 

anything super nice. I will wait until she learns to sit still 

to pay a bunch for her wardrobe. 

5. I don't shop as often as most fashion bloggers do. 

and when I do I am always too busy to stop to set up a tripod to 

take an outfit shot. So to you fashionistas that do it daily, 

I am literally standing and applauding you right now. 

 6. Speaking of fashion... Lately I have been wearing my chambray shirts

leggings and flats... and that's it. Working from home has changed my

routine juuuuuust a bit. And honestly, unless my bestest forces me 

on a "No Chambray Day" then I'm going to be in chambray. 

sorry. it's cozy. 

7. I have a pc....

next

8. I totally decorated my daughter's room to be semi-photographic

and she insists on littering it with pillow pets and legos. 

so basically her room looks nothing like Pinterest...like I intended. 

9. I actually love quinoa, but I don't get kale chips at all. 

And i happen to love maruchan... I know it's terrible, 

but it's quick and easy and I health-ify it with tons of veggies and salmon.

Sue me. 

10. i don't like coffee... I've tried very hard to drink it. Even the heavily 

sweetened ones from Starbucks, but it doesn't stick. 

If we go on a cafe date, don't think I'm blah.

I'm a tea gal through and through. 

Whew!!!! That feels so much better. 
Let's all unblog together shall we... 
If you've got an unblog confession tweet it &  #unblog.

 If you got a question, go ahead ask me!

DISCOVER ME / 3

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So Jane O asked me to give you guys

a run down of my past.  In particular, the college days.

It seems like forever and a half ago that 

I was in school. I feel like I morphed into a completely 

different being since then.  Why, you ask?  Because I am

I guess now is a great time to rip off a very sticky 

band aid on a very hairy leg.

My college days were the loveliest. 

If you didn't know already, I went to SCAD in Savannah, 

which painted the perfect backdrop for figuring one's self out.

Academically it was great! I was challenged and kneaded like dough 

and essentially mentored into figuring out what my greatest passion was:

 to create. 

(i've always been pretty colorful through and through; this was at the 

Sangrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain 2006)

DISCOVER ME / 2

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Life is full of the crappy days. 

There is honestly no way to sugar coat that.

but I am working on stepping out of the 

worry-wart-dom that I always seem to be in

and let loose. 

Maybe staying home on Saturday nights is what's best. 

I mean, if it produces such magical photos as the ones above,

is going out even an option. 

Naaaaah.

How do you guys keep from letting the everyday yuckness eat you alive?

discover a little more about me here...

 

DISCOVER ME / 1

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Not sure what avenue this post will lead to, but I'm taking the ride any how.

I was presented with a blogger award, by one of my 

readers and one of the requirements was to tell you all

7 things that you may not know about me. 

The blog has been around for 4 years, so I'm not 100% sure 

of what I have omitted and divulged. 

Sporadically, I will release a few nuances that 

you might not find out unless you are in my world. 

And because I try to be transparent here, I'm having a tough time

coming up with a neatly numbered list. 

So here goes....