Some of you might remember this vintage scarf worn as a top here, but when I was looking for something colorful and cheerful to wear on my birthday in Santa Barbara, I saw this baby and knew she was the one.
Plus – what color is better for the birthday girl than pink!? We snapped these photos in a little garden on the way to brunch – more photos from this trip here.
This is a different post than I normally share – a bit more personal, but I was led to write it and wanted to see if it resonated with any of you.
The other day as I was sitting in traffic in my new delightful commute home (while I do adore our new place, I live further away from work and the commute is tragically twice as long), “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” came on my iPod and my eyes got a little teary. This was the song I walked down the aisle to when I married my college sweetheart.
When I was trying to select music for our wedding ceremony, I was stumped on what I should choose to walk down the aisle to. We knew we wanted it to be meaningful, but just didn’t know what that was. I called my sister to help us and she encouraged us to choose something that not only represented our love for each other, but also represented what walking the aisle symbolizes – to reflect that we as believers, the bride of Christ, wait with anticipation for the day we will be reunited with our Bridegroom.
When she said this, I knew “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” was the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to. Now that it has this deeper meaning to me, when I sing this song in church or hear it on my iPod, I’m always overwhelmed with love, gratitude, thankfulness and peace. It now represents the love and respect I have for the person I will live my earthly life with and with the One who created me.
I think it’s amazing that music can be so moving – taking you back to memories and experiences so quickly. When my mom was a senior in high school her grandfather (a man who came to America with a dream, his bride and a couple bills in his pocket) died at Christmas time. When she was a junior in college, my uncle was diagnosed with a brain tumor around Christmas and then died several years later during the Christmas season. Because of this, my mom almost always tears up at the Christmas Eve church service when we’re singing hymns. Literally, when the lights go out and we hold our individual candles, there are more often than not tears rolling down her cheeks. Tears for both the loss she has experienced and gratefulness for the blessings she’s been given.
Do you ever feel moved to tears by music? Is there a song in particular that triggers emotions or specific experiences for you? I would love to hear about how music or a specific song has been meaningful in your own life.
I shared my birthday weekend in Malibu and Santa Barbara here, but I wanted to show some more photos that we snapped while in Malibu. When I saw this sequin mini at Forever21 online, I bought it in both colors. I loved the geometric print and knew that I wouldn’t be devastated if the sequins popped off after a few wears – one of the great things about a $40 skirt!
I was all shades of blue with a blue lifeguard tower and the blue Pacific waters, watching the sunset on a Friday night – a kind night I wish I could have more of.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for shopping!! I have purchased some of my favorite pieces this year from Nordstrom (like this kimono dress available here and this fabulous vest) and can’t wait to stock up on some more this week.
The GREAT news is that this sale is available until 8/3 – so you have plenty of time to shop for the best steals and deals. Some of my favorite pieces are above, particularly these heels, these bralettes and this bracelet. What do you have your eye on? A big splurge or something fun? DVF and Rag & Bone pieces would totally be my splurge of choice (insert emoticon with big eyes here).
Happy shopping and please share your steals with me! I’m ready – card in hand. Thanks so much for reading – XO –
– the most fun birthday surprise from Christian – my own Tiffany’s blue beach cruiser complete with a cup holder! –
– holding on to several adorable birthday cards I can’t toss (desk reveal with Design Darling and Eva Rose soon!) –
– seeing Jersey Boys for the second time and listening to the soundtrack all week –
– new YSL treats-
– adding some leopard into our den –
Christian and I plan to spend a quiet weekend at home after a fun birthday weekend away, and I need to get back in home-organization mode. We are getting there, but still needing a coffee table, fig leaf tree for the den and our guest bedroom is full of the extra knick-knacks and boxes we haven’t utilized = clutter central. I’m hoping I can buckle down and take care of these last bits so we can be fully settled.
Some of my favorite birthday surprises were a lemon tree, lime tree, beach cruiser (total surprise!), new desk and ghost chair. Thank you so much for all of your birthday wishes on instagram – y’all truly made the day feel so special! I must admit I also asked for a rumba due to Bailey’s enormous amounts of shedding, but somehow Dr. Barnes missed that one…so it looks like I’ll be giving it to myself – a must if Queen Bailey continues to rule the house.
Lastly and most importantly, I can’t thank all of you enough for your comments, emails and texts about my sweet Lula LaShonda last week. Some of you shared your own stories of your own precious pets that you loved and lost over the years and y’all have truly comforted me. I must share our pets aren’t “allowed” to sleep in our bedroom at night but since her diagnosis, this little kitty has found herself stretched out between Christian and me every night. My girlfriend Amy shared this story of a tripawd labrador’s last day on earth (a double whammy since I have a labrador AND a tripawd cat) and I sat at my desk with tears rolling down my cheeks as I read the touching story. I am grateful for the time I’ve had with Lula and feel blessed she chose me to spend her last years with.
Christian and I had such a fun weekend celebrating my 27th birthday in Santa Barbara! We stopped in Malibu on the way up to watch the sunset on the beach and have dinner at one of our favorite spots, Kristy’s. We then drove to Santa Barbara and spent Saturday brunching, hopping from tasting room to tasting room and walking along the pier. On Sunday we did a little shopping and stopped in LA on the way home to see my brother and sister-in-law who surprised me with a beautiful Magnolia Bakery birthday cake (and trick candles of course)!
Christian and I have visited vineyards in Santa Ynez Valley when we came to Santa Barbara for our anniversary (vineyard photos here), but playing downtown and walking around State Street was a totally different experience. We really had a great time together and Christian always has a way to make me feel so special.
More to come on some of my favorite birthday gifts – one of them having graced instagram already – my own lemon and lime trees!! Below are some snaps from our trip –
– a surprise farmer’s market off of Mulholland Drive! $5 for these avocados –
We had the best time and I’m already ready to go back. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
– getting some wicker patio furniture to enjoy outdoor dining on these cool California nights –
– an early birthday surprise from my Mom – my new desk chair! –
– the prettiest embellished dress from L.Mae Boutique –
Christian has pampered me all week with early birthday surprises here and there as I turn 27 tomorrow (!!!). He has been so wonderful, especially considering this week has been particularly heavy on my heart.
After speaking with Lula’s veterinary oncologist on Tuesday, we have learned her cancer cannot be cured. I don’t want her to spend her last months in and out of the specialty vet getting shots and x-rays, poked and prodded only to prolong the inevitable. She used to sit in my lap at the vet, as relaxed and calm as ever. She now fights to run straight for the door as soon as we step foot in the vet lobby.
I have cried in the shower, cried in the bed at night, cried in the kitchen chopping vegetables, cried in the car on the way to work. It breaks my heart that this full-grown rescue cat walked into my life three years ago and has been the most amazing blessing to me, and I will now lose her so quickly to cancer. Many of you have reached out to share your own experiences, heartache and sympathy and I can’t thank you enough. Your support and love really does help me get through it, knowing I’m not the only one to experience losing a young pet.
For now we will celebrate her life and be grateful for the time we have left. Lots of snuggle time, laying out in the grass in the sunshine, shredded chicken (rescued from the Mexican restaurant parking lot – this of course is her favorite) and naps on the bed. Christian and I are heading to Santa Barbara this weekend to celebrate my birthday and drink lots of wine. Crossing my fingers I don’t drink three glasses and starting crying in the tasting room about my three-legged cat with cancer.
It’s possible. There is no denying I am crazy about her.
Thank you for all of your support. I love y’all and we are so appreciative. XO – Kat and Lula LaShonda
Some of you may remember me mentioning this top here, but when the duo came in I knew the shorts were going back but the top was here to stay. So fun and flirty, the open back and ruffles are perfect for this breezy California summer. Plus – the parrots are extra fun considering we have a flock of parrots that flies over our townhouse every day. They might be pretty but they’re squawk is piercing (example here). The milkmaid braids comes from my post-pool day hair. A girl has to do what a girl has to do to get ready quickly for happy hour on the Circle.
– toasting to my bestie’s new business endeavors, Calls for Champagne – a bachelorette party service in Nashville…um FUN –
– cheerful blooms and afternoon sunlight in the breakfast room –
– a fabulous print c/o Design Darling – this was our first dance at our wedding! –
– a four-day weekend –
We are feeling at home in our new place and I have to say, I’m absolutely loving it. It’s everything we were looking for and I just can’t believe we actually found it. I am grateful to have an extra long holiday weekend having both Thursday and today off and this time there’s no heavy lifting or painting involved – so cheers to that!
In other news, Christian has officially started his second year of residency and is now taking home call…which means I have the pleasure of hearing the beeper go off in the middle of the night. Tis love!
Some of you may have seen on instagram that we were told by our veterinary oncologist on Monday that Miss Lula does indeed still have cancer. Of course I was devastated, but we both knew that this was a possibility. We are weighing our options for our girl and will make the decision that is in her best interest. I am so beyond grateful for Christian and his ability to communicate effectively with these doctors and relay the information to me. He is so supportive and he loves this three-legged rescue cat too, so his heart hurts as does mine.
Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement on our townhouse sneak peek! More to come and y’all are going to have to help me pick a coffee table. Have a safe and fun holiday weekend lots of love to all of you – XO –
Thanks to my wonderful husband, we are all moved in and our new little townhouse has been transformed into our breezy and quiet digs – we are obsessed.
My fabulous parents were helping my brother’s family move from San Francisco to Los Angeles during the same week that we were moving, so my parents were able to come to Orange County for the weekend and were over-the-top generous and helpful. We even took them to Ikea and they were mesmerized by the sample show rooms that share living spaces in small square footage – too funny! My sweet Dad painted our bathroom, Mom painted the downstairs bathroom and the four of us painted the guest bedroom (still empty…trying to decide how to utilize it but still have plenty of space for an air mattress for our of town guests) and hung most all of our art. I loved having them here and next time we will definitely spend more time relaxing with less manual labor (and Mom and I getting less paint in our hair).
I wanted to share some snippets of our new home with y’all – we still need a few pieces here and there – but all in all, we feel pretty settled!
Let me know what you think! Keep in mind we just moved in a week ago..but we are almost totally settled. We are in the market for a new coffee table, patio furniture and a fig leaf plant – I would love any of your suggestions! Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to enter the TAudrey plate necklace giveaway – XO –
Those of you who follow my instagram may have seen that I spent the last week moving into our new little townhouse. If a move isn’t already stressful enough, the icing on the cake was that I caught some kind of virus and spent half of the week trying to peel myself out of the bed because I felt so groggy. The good news is that our new place is painted and organized and we absolutely love it – so cheers to that!
I have some more good news to share – today I am teaming up with the beauties behind A Pinch of Lovely and Life with Emily to give three readers their own personalized TAudrey plate necklace! Featured below is the date plate necklace with our wedding anniversary engraved – too sweet, I just love it.
Today is the day we load up and move to our (thankfully) bigger townhouse in Orange County! The papers are signed and the keys are ours…and I’m starting the oh-so-fun process of painting the walls. I haven’t painted since I was 12 and thought my bedroom would be extra awesome if painted coral, so this should be interesting.
More fun posts later this week! Thanks so much for reading and for your warm wishes! XO –
