cha cha cha

During the summer, there's big band dancing at the Parthenon every Saturday here in Nashville. My dear friend and former roommate, Brittani, texted me a few days before and asked if I wanted to go. I was a bit apprehensive because I hadn't done much dancing aside from a few years of ballet as a kid and a bit of ballroom dancing for the production of Cinderella I was in a few years ago. 

We arrived about an hour late (neither of us are very punctual...) and stood around for a bit. After a few songs, they divided up the guys and gals on separate sides of the pavilion and taught us to cha cha cha. Then, they gave us ten seconds to find a partner. Apprehensive much? It ended up being a good night. There were all kinds of people there--families with small kids, elderly couples, and plenty of people my age. I also learned to swing dance, which is my favorite thus far! It was fun doing something totally out of the realm of things I would ever consider doing.

After we danced, we went by the Starbucks where Brittani works and got some iced passion teas. While I was waiting on Brittani, a man approached me and asked if I could help him with his English. I obliged, since there were quite a few people milling around. Turns out he is a Christian! He was working on a missions website and wanted to make sure his grammar was correct. It was such a cool coincidence since I'm currently working towards my B.A. in English, and plan on teaching overseas!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! (Yes, I know it's Monday. I have a three-day weekend. ;) )

xo,
Katy

Anyway, it was a great night.

all that is gold does not glitter

This is one of my all-time favorite Tolkien quotes. I needed a new phone case, and was browsing around on Society6. I found a super cute one with this quote. But as always the "those" was left out. If you're going to quote someone, at least do it properly. So I made this. And it's now on Soceity6. AND it's available as an iPhone case. ;) Just click "store" in my banner to head to my Society6 store.

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king

J.R.R. Tolkien

xo,katy

what i wore ---> floral pants

 

 I went to the mall last week to get a massage because my back was killing me and I didn't have time to go to the chiropractor. That ended up being a terrible idea, because they pretty much murdered my back. It still hurts, and that was days ago. All whining aside, I'd been trying to find a pair of floral pants for a few months, but had yet to find any I really liked. On a whim, I went into Aeropostale. I never shop there, as it's usually way too preppy for my taste. But there they were. The pants. AND they were on sale. I had no intention of spending any money, but I just couldn't pass these up. :)

This shirt was my mom's. It's a bit big on me (though I'm not sure how it fit her, as we we're about the same size!) but I love it. It's so her. And the color is so sweet. :)

I wore the pants (with a different shirt) to see Dark Knight Rises. I felt fancy. ;) That movie was great, by the way. I'm going to go see it again this week. Then I'll decide if I like it or Dark Knight better. I'm torn at the moment. I loooooooove me some Christian Bale. ;)

Have a lovely week! Make this Monday memorable!
xo,
Katy

Now Playing----> Somewhere Over the Rainbow- The Piano Guys

vanishing point

 

I originally intended these photos to be used for an outfit post. I bought a pair of dadgum floral pants and they're pretty much marvelous. Sadly, the location and posing of the photos was just awkward. Boo. I was, however, able to salvage the photos for something a little more artistic. I experimented around with the post-processing on these photos for quite a while. I rather like them. They're a definite departure from my normal style. Ole! 

xo,

Katy

P.S. I did get one good photo of THE PANTS. I'll share later. ;)

to the future

Hiya. I'm Katy. And clearly, I haven't been around here in a while. My apologies! For the most part, I've just been working, reading, and spending time with friends over these past few weeks. I did, however, spend the last week in Memphis, TN for the National Association of Free Will Baptists annual meeting. I know, I know. It doesn't sound exciting or fun, but it was. I got to see a lot of old friends and listen to some really incredible speakers. I had the honor of judging the photography competition. (Grade-school aged kids compete all week in things like Bible Tic Tac Toe, Piano, Drama, and Art.) In all, I judged 68 photo essays, single photos, and drawings. It was exhausting, but rewarding. These kids have so much talent, and their hearts are truly in the right place.

Some really incredible historic things happened in Memphis, too. For the first time, a woman was elected to a board (International Missions). All of the missionaries that had to come back to the states due to finances were sent home to their respective fields! And, most exciting for me, the school I attend became Welch College. 


For the past 70 years, my school has been known as Free Will Baptist Bible College, or FWBBC (pronounced fwib-ick) for short. However, we had really outgrown that name. We're an accredited school, ranked 35th out of all the colleges in the South, on the President's Honor Roll for community service, listed as one of the best Christian workplaces, and offer over 40 majors. We aren't just a "Bible College" anymore. We have degrees in English, Business, Biology, Music, etc. We're still conservative, Christian school. But we're branching out in areas of academics, and we needed to reflect that.

Another reason the named was changed was for the benefit of our Alumni. The new name will make it easier for graduates to get into graduate schools and missionaries to get into creative access countries. There are no downsides to the change.

Anyway, It was certainly an exciting week. I'm so ready to be back at school.

xo,
Katy

songs and books and such

I wish that you could see your little girl now,
Wish you could know the roads she's been down.
If you could hold her in your arms just one more time
She might know that everything's alright, everything's alright. 

***

Hey, how's it going?
It's been awhile
Since I've seen a smile
On your face.

Hey, heard he left you,
Took your keys,
And moved out of your place.

You say you want to be in water,
You say you're lying on the floor.
You say to throw you in the ocean.
At least then your body will be moving again. 

Hey, it's not easy
To put on foot
In front of the other one.

Hey, don't you know?
There's a love
That will save you from that gun.

You say that you want to be in water,
You say you're lying on the floor.
You say to throw you in the ocean.
At least then your body will be moving again. 

***
You said you'd marry me in the fading light.
You said you'd love me 'til your chest grew tight.
I thought I could trust those big, blue eyes.
Never thought I'd have to say goodbye.

Oh, you said "believe me!" 
But the time for believing is over.
How can I trust you when your
Heart's never sober?
You don't know how to love. 

You came back on a Saturday.
Said that you'd always feel this way.
How could I trust a word you said?
When they came from your messed-up head?

***
 You left in mid-October.
You said that it was over.
And I cried; said good-bye.
Don't you know that I'll be fine?
I'm just fine.

You said you didn't love her.
I thought I was wise cause I was older.
But I'm not. Can't you see
That your love meant everything to me?

Your not what you appear to be.
Your heart is not a symphony.
But it plays, anyway.
I feel sorry for the girl who walks your way. 

You left in mid-October.
I'm so glad that it's still over. 

***

I've been writing songs like a madwoman lately. I'm going to blame it on really only listening to angsty singer-songwriter music for the past few weeks. I've always preferred writing songs over poems. Meter takes priority over rhyme. I write my melodies on the piano, then write words to fit. It just works better for me that way. Now I just have to convince my sister, Jessica, to sing them. She's got an incredible voice. And I'm not just saying that because she's my sister. :)

In other news, I've read 4.5 books in the last week-and-a-half. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the first three Harry Potter books. (I'm part-way through the fourth.) Yes, I'm just now reading them. I wasn't allowed to read them as a kid. Not so much because my parents thought they were evil (I was allowed--encouraged, even--to read The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings) but because the rest of the Christian community was decrying them and I was a preacher's kid.

Anyway, at the insistence of a friend, I joined Pottermore. To my dismay, I was sorted into Hufflepuff. I wasn't to keen on this at first, but after realizing how few people seem to get sorted into that house, I decided it was okay. I've always (somewhat annoyingly, I presume) prided myself on being unique. So, that's that. ;)

I'm off to spend the evening with a sweet friend. :)
xo,
Katy

P.S. I feel like my writing has been weird and disjointed lately. Hrmph.

super summer playlist

 I thought you might enjoy hearing what I've been listening to lately. I've dubbed this my "Super Summer Playlist." These songs feel perfectly summery to me. There's a lot of acoustic, folk, rock, and some electronica influenced music. I could just lay under the stars on an old quilt and listen to these songs, or drive around during golden hour with the car windows down.
 xo, Katy