Thursday, December 20, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I'm grateful for...
#26Acts -- a social media movement to honor the lives of the victims in Newtown, Connecticut -- great idea, Ann Curry -- I'll start my 26 acts of random kindness today.

Horrible, stormy weather -- I'm grateful for it because it will help me appreciate Mexico So. Much. More. in a couple of days.

Random, thoughtful notes and texts. It makes me feel great to be able to help my friends -- getting little notes back of love and appreciation is such a sweet bonus.

Love,
Katery


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Coffee. I rarely drink it, so when I do -- it's because I really need it. Like right now.
Trips that turn out even better than expected.
Having a sweet, healthy dog to come home to.
Have a bit of making up to do from NYC...
Also...
Ex-husbands who offer dating advice. Wtf.
Getting to work with best-selling authors on a first-name, first-hand basis.
Old co-workers who become new co-workers. Yay.
Spotify.
Tom's 1st Avenue Bento.
Nordstrom Rack within walking distance of work.
A happening soon trip to Mexico con mi chica favorita.
Good lighting for pics in NYC.
Knowing enough about my camera to take some good picturesin NYC.
Having friends in NYC.
Vitamins.
Upcoming NYE party. Yay.

That is all for now.

Love,
Katery

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

tres gratitudes...

Afros.
Giant baskets of booze courtesy of friends who live afar -- friends' generosity in general.
My fabulous yoga studio that I should go to more often, (also the athletic reimbursement at work that helps me pay for said yoga studio!)

Love,
Katery

Monday, November 26, 2012

3 Gratitudes


Catching up with friends who live on the other side of the world
Not feeling hungover at work after aforementioned catching up
S U N S H I N E in Portland in November
Bonus 4th: having co-workers I love so much that when they're both out of work on the same day I totally miss them! 

Love,
Katery

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

3 Gratitudes

This may sound slightly materialistic -- but one of my 3 gratitudes today is for new clothes. I'm trying to save $$ to travel, but I can't pass up a beautiful wool, violet/royal blue pencil skirt from J.Crew... for $40! Yay. I love having an outfit that I feel fabulous in all day... I just do.

I'm also grateful for the fun yoga/pilates/aerobics studio Melissa found... had a super fun time last night trying an aerial swing pilates class!

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Number three -- I'm grateful for dog walks with my roommate... even when it's shitty out. It's nice to have a dog-walking partner to cruise around the neighborhood and catch up with. Yay, Karlita!

Love,
Katery

Oooo... a fourth one... I'm so freaking grateful for Spotify. Every day. All day. Love it.

Friday, November 9, 2012

3 Gratitudes!

Today I'm super excited for all the live music that's been happening lately... a show at Crystal last weekend, tonight Devil Makes Three at Crystal Ballroom! Woo hoo!

I'm also grateful for the amazing cowboy boots I got for my birthday from Dad a few years ago. I sure do miss him, but I love being able to have things in life that remind me of him.

I'm also very grateful today for the packed social calendar I seem to always have. Portland is going to be a tough place to leave someday... but for now, I'm so enjoying these good times with so many good friends.

Love,
Katery

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I'm grateful for the political process in America. I'm grateful I was able to vote, feel like I made a difference, and see an incumbent President whom I admire so deeply be re-elected.

I'm also grateful for the wonderful night I had watching the returns last night with friends... we had so much fun at Bar Bar, and I realized that in looking around, I was surrounded by a group of many of my most favorite people in the world. So much fun!

Finally, this morning I'm grateful for the little breakfast bowls the cafe downstairs makes. Seriously -- it's so amazing to go downstairs and get a bowl of avocado, tomato, hash browns, and cheesy goodness. Tastes pretty healthy and fills me up so I can have good lunch break workouts. Yum!!

Today -- a bonus fourth gratitude: the sun is out! Yessss! :)

Love,
Katery

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I'm grateful for the start of the Blazers season... and for the fact that Erica and I will go together to the season opener against the Lakers. Yay!!!

I'm also grateful that rainy weather doesn't really bother me. It's pretty nasty outside, but in all the years I've lived in Portland, it's never really seemed to matter!

Finally, I'm grateful for old friends who seemingly out of nowhere decide to come visit for the weekend. I'm so excited to hang out with Iris in a few days!! :)

Love,
Katery

Monday, October 29, 2012

200th Post: 3 Gratitudes!

Wow... Katery Designs' 200th post! That's pretty cool... and this morning, I'm, again, writing about 3 gratitudes.

Halloween! It's so much fun to get dressed up and go out with some fabulous friends! Friday night Melissa, Karla and I went to Karla's ad agency party... "Shaken not Stirred" theme -- dressed up like a dirty martini, a blue hawaiian, and I was Prosecco. Fun! Also, great to have a DD (me) to get us home after all the free, strong drinks the girls had.


Saturday night Preston, Melissa and I hung out with Snow, Mark, and Scott & Kevin for some Halloween fun in Chinatown and some Bhangra dancing at Someday Lounge. Aren't Preston and Melissa the cutest little insects you ever did see?


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Earlier in the day, Mike and I took Coyla to a college fair at the convention center. I'm so grateful for that little Monster and so proud of her for all the hard work she's putitng in at school and in her activities outside of class, too. Check out the school we found at the fair... :)
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And finally, today I'm grateful for fabulous food cooked courtesy of Preston. What a great little brunch maker he is. Yummm!!!

Love,
Katery

Friday, October 26, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I am grateful for Blazers tickets... and the amazing roommate who's like, "Hey Kate, want a couple tickets to next week's season home opener against the Lakers on Halloween?" Umm... yes please!!

I'm also grateful for good friends who tell me I'm too good for some of the losers I could potentially go on dates with... thanks for boosting my self confidence and helping me realize how fully fabulous I am.

I'm grateful for a trip to New York! Work is sending me for a couple of days in December. I'm excited to explore the city a little more, travel with co-workers and get to know them better, and just get outta town and go on an adventure!

Love,
Katery

Thursday, October 25, 2012

3 Gratitudes

I get to go to New York for work in December! Just for a couple of days... but in a sweet hotel near the financial district -- cool... a part of the city I haven't explored before. Looking forward to the quick trip!

I love my roommate Karlita. She totally made my day last night by curling up in bed with me for some South Park. What a sweet girl. Love her!

Shopping trip with Snow for lunch today... I knew the second I saw that girl we'd be friends. Sure enough... we are! I love fabulous co-workers who are easy to bond with!

Love,
Katery

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

3 Gratitudes

I am grateful for cozy movie nights around the fireplace with really good friends.
I am grateful that part of my job includes interviewing authors about really positive work they're doing to help the corporate world be more mindful of its social and environmental impact.
I am grateful for future plans that are exciting but don't have to be 100% figured out right now, (I'm grateful for a lesson in patience).

Love,
Katery

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

3 Gratitudes

I'm grateful for a job that is virtually stress-free. Still. Very grateful. It's also really cool that I get to network with speakers like Dr. John Izzo... loving him right now!

Happy to have so many good friends here in Portlandia... making more good friends all the time. I guess I'm just grateful that I am the kind of person who connects to people and can make friends! :)

Super grateful for lunchtime workouts... cross fit with a group of co-workers is the best! (Also, ouch, I'm sore)...

Love,
Katery


Monday, October 22, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Presidential debates -- they may dividing the country, but they're bringing my household together. Roomie watch party tonight on Commercial Ave.! I love this season, (maybe because I don't watch TV and see any negative ad campaigns) -- I feel like election season makes me proud to be a voting, politically-minded U.S. citizen.

Work lunch break workouts! Yay for a group of fun, fit co-workers to take lunch breaks with and get our sweat on together!

Having family local -- I had a lot of fun yesterday spending some quality time with my sister, grandma and niece.

Love,
Katery

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

3 Gratitudes

I'm trying to be good about my commitment to spend time each day, as part of my 100-day challenge, writing in a journal or blogging... typing is faster, so here I am wanting to watch Californication -- but blogging first. :)

I thought I'd wrap up the day with 3 gratitudes... three things that I'm thankful for top-of-mind as I get ready to turn in for the night. Tonight I'm very thankful for my roommates. I can't believe how smooth my transition went from living as a couple with Mike to living as a single woman -- sure, it's been pretty freaking difficult at times, but the house that I moved into and my roommates here have been such a huge blessing. When I come home, I know there's a .00005% percent of any drama at the house. My roommates have all become good friends, each bringing special qualities to my life. Gregg with his surfing, his sweet girlfriend, his commitment to volunteering, and his kind words throughout my Dad's progression with Alzheimer's. Ken with his warm hugs, his calming presence, his good beer and good food. Amanda and sometimes her sweet girlfriend, now fiance... such a testament to how great a relationship can be. They love each other so much, and are so fun to go out with. Karla who, like our house mom, does so much to keep our ship sailing and does it in such a cleanly way. She's so much fun, in whatever state of mind she may be in, and is someone I know I can always vent to or talk to about boys, life, anything. What a great group of people. So, actually, tonight -- I think that's not three gratitudes, but four. My four fabulous roommates. I don't know what I would've done without them over the past (almost) year, (geeze -- has it been that long?)! They're the best, and I feel so priviliged to get to live with them.

Love,
Katery

Well, this is kind of perfect...

A co-worker who's getting to know me pretty well sent this over this morning. It certainly speaks to me, so I thought I'd share...


For A New Beginning

In out-of-the way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been  quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the Emptiness growing inside of you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety 
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight,when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground ,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plentitude opening before you.
though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
 
-John O Donohue

Love,
Katery

Sunday, September 23, 2012

1 day down... 99 to go!

For the last 100 days of 2012 I'm officially booze-free. So far, so good. It'll actually end up being more like the last 114 days of 2012, but who's counting? (I am -- seriously). I decided over the weekend to add a little extra challenge -- write or blog daily. So, yesterday I made good on my challenge and didn't drink and also journaled. Tonight, even though I'm exhausted and can't wait to go to sleep, I'll also blog a little before bed.

I'm excited to get another blog going. It's created, just not written on yet -- Katery Travels: a blog dedicated to the traveling I'm planning on next year. I'll likely start blogging there soon as I prepare for my trip. But for now -- Katery Designs is still the blog spot. :)

Over the weekend I took Coyla to Sunriver... a fabulous trip. She hadn't been there before, and it was a great weekend filled with hiking, biking, swimming, movies, Friends, vegetarian/vegan meals, and earlier this afternoon we also hiked around Paulina Lake. Beautiful pictures to come... what a lovely hike and some serious quality time with my Little Monster. I couldn't be more proud of her -- with her 4.0 GPA, all of her volunteer and school-related activities, and her general cool factor. She's pretty freakin' awesome, and it was good to see her. I'm hoping that when I move away she'll be able to come visit, (as I hope quite a few good friends will be able to do).

This weekend I had a lot of down time to process, reflect and just think. Coyla's great to go on an 8 mile hike with -- we don't have to talk the whole time, there's plenty of quiet time for walking and thinking. So, between lots of reading yesterday, journaling, hiking, and driving... I got a lot of good, quiet Katery time in, as well. What a relaxing weekend! Just what I needed before heading back into a busy, productive work-week. Next weekend I'll be off to Olympia for a night with Melissa for an adult girls' slumber party at Anita's. Wheee!!

Now, seriously, off to bed. TIRED girl! :)

Love,
Katery

Thursday, September 20, 2012

100 Days of...


There are 102 days left until the new year… which meaning we’re coming in on 100 days of something fabulous I can do to round 2012. This got me thinking. What is something I can do for the final 100 days of this year? Yoga every day? That seems like a schedule issue. Eating healthy? Too generic. Not drinking? Well, geeze, that doesn’t sound like fun, but I’m leaning that way so far. Three gratitudes? I’ve been trying to do that randomly, but I’m not so sure it would happen every day.

There are, of course, some ideas online… I could apparently co-create a new reality in 100 days, (new car, new job, new mate?)… Sounds promising, but not for me.

How about 100 days of real, not processed foods? Yea, right… but awesome idea!

Ha… how about the 100 day burpee challenge? Awesome – one burpee day one, two on day two, three on three, so on and so forth…

There’s even a plan to dramatically change my life in any way I decide in 100 days…

I think what’s most important to remember here is that I’d like to do something in 100 days that I find personally challenging. I think one of the most challenging things for me involves booze right now. Far too much of my life is centered around drinking, albeit social drinking, but it’s the truth. One drink turns into three or four all too often, I’ll end up having a cigarette or two, (or three or four depending on how much I’m drinking), it gives me drunk-reasoning to call some boy who I’d otherwise have no sober intentions of contacting, and then I feel hungover, don’t do yoga or whatever else I intended to do the next morning, and I realize I spent way more money than I intended on spending.

So, as I approach the 100 days left in 2012 mark, I think that’s it for me. I know it seems kind of extreme. I could, of course, have a glass of wine with dinner here or there, but I’m kind of a go-big-or-go-home kind of girl. And this time, I’m going big, (rather than going home with the dude I met while drunk). This will be my 100 day cleanse, (even though I technically started a break from booze on September 9th). J

Goodbye alcohol. I’ll miss you Pinot Noir. Farewell prohibition era cocktails. Au revoir HopWorks. Go in Peace, Pasion at Las Primas. (Hello fewer calories, zero hangovers, and less money spent). 

The 100 day Booze Ban Katery Cleanse officially begins on Saturday, (and I’m already not sure this is such a great idea)! I'll update progress here. :)

Love,
Katery

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I'm thankful for a job that is low-stress. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Universe -- my last 2 jobs were pretty stressful in different ways. This one is not. Thank you.

I'm thankful for good friends coming home who feel like family. I knew I missed Preston and Melissa, but having them home is like having a big piece of home... home again. :)
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I'm grateful for reconnecting with good, established friends... great to catch up and touch base with people who are *good* people. So good to see you, Sarah-mony! <3 p="p">.facebook_1976772992.jpg
Love,
Katery

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I'm thankful for:

Old friends/co-workers I can randomly pop in on and say hi to...

Travel books at Powell's...

Good friends who have traveled extensively and offer great advice!

Love,
Katery

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

3 Gratitudes

Today I'm thankful that I can walk... I know, seems silly... but after that bike crash that could've left me paralyzed or worse, I'm still stoked to be able to walk around downtown -- in fact, will go for a jog around the waterfront for lunch today! Yipee!

I'm also grateful for things to look forward to... I'm excited to travel, and am realizing if things go as planned, I'm looking at about 6 months out from Asia!

Finally -- today thankful for cool co-workers. I clicked with my co-worker Caitlin immediately, and I'm so glad I get to see her everyday at work. Girl cracks me up!! :)

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Daddy's Girl...


I sure do miss my Dad. Each day I put on his Mickey Mouse watch and think of him – something he wore for so many years that now reminds me of him as I glance at it periodically throughout the day. I feel like he’s with me, watching over me, and I want to live a better life knowing that he’s aware of everything. 

I hope he’s proud of me. I hope he approves of my career and the work that I do. I hope he’s not disappointed in me for going through with a divorce, and I hope he isn’t disappointed in any decisions that I make. I hope he would support me packing up my life and moving to Asia to teach. Someday… I hope he’ll be there with me, sharing in my exotic experiences, learning lessons from afar. 

Most of all, I hope he knows how much I think of him, look up to him, miss him and love him.

Love,
Katery

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

3 Gratitudes:

Thankful that Starbucks is being recognized as a business that supports marriage equality, (since I go there every morning)...

Thankful for a job that allows me to go to Starbucks every morning, (work-life balance and financially speaking...)

 



Thankful for my "sisters"... my real sister and I had a great time hanging out on Saturday! Got to spend lots of quality time with Coyla Monster Sunday and Monday, too! :)


Love,
Katery

Thursday, August 2, 2012

3 Gratitudes

2 years since the bicycle crash that messed me up... I'm grateful to be riding to work everyday on the same bike and loving every minute of it!


Good friends coming home... I've missed P and M so much the last few months... super excited for them to be coming home in a couple of weeks!!













Good friends who feel like home... it was so good to see Jo-Lee last weekend. Love that girl like a sister, and seeing her reminds me that we're best friends forever! Now... and then!