"my nail beds suck..."

it's no secret that i like to do things for myself. i never want to ask for help, even when i know i really need it, and if i can figure out how to make something myself, i sure as heck won't buy it. so it's natural that i have always tried to do my own nails. i went about a year going to the salon regularly for fill-ins and pretty polish -- but then i moved out and had no money so i was back to doing it for myself. i used to paint my nails a lot in high school, then sort of fell out of it once i got to college. well now, for whatever reason, i have found my way back to colorful shades and teensy brushes. here are a few of my recent nail endeavors.

tribal

harry potter, gryffindor

wizard of oz

i have several ideas for more manis -- and it's fun because you can choose something for every occasion. i am by no means a professional, or even that good, but i don't think they're too bad to wear out in public. enjoy. :)

love.
krq.

ps. the title is a "mean girls" reference. if you didn't get that, then we might not be able to be friends.

"i don't know much about algebra...

"...but i know 1 plus 1 equals 2."

+

=

sometimes you take things for granted, you just do. you forget to be thankful for what you have and who surrounds you. you worry too much about the bills and not enough about the relationships. sometimes, this just happens. but when you snap out of it, at least when i do, there is such relief. you see that you do have these people in your life, and you do have love and support, and you don't have to do this alone. and the flat tire can be fixed, dinner will be better next time and work won't always be so annoying. these people hold you up. try to remember that, even when your world is spinning so fast it makes you dizzy. i am thankful for all the people in my life, one in particular...

"if i ain't got nothing, i got you...cause baby we ain't got nothing without love." --beyonce, "1+1"

love.

krq.

music of the moment

when i find a new song i love, i want to shout it from the rooftops and tell everyone how amazing the song is. as if i'm the musical expert everyone should listen to. whatev. anyway, i found out via that thing they call twitter that miranda lambert had a girl band called the pistol annies. of course i immediately googled that shiz. miranda and i go way back to me being 16 and seeing her video for "me and charlie talkin'" on cmt and going "who is that girl?" and then a week later listening to that very song in kyle's car with the windows rolled down and he held my hand for the first time. so, like, way back. the annies' first song, "hell on heels," is brilliantttt. it's true country music and takes me to a mountain somewhere. i have listened to it over and over since i downloaded it from itunes. i listened to it on repeat to and from work all week last week, a 20 minute drive each way. it's so great, and i can't wait to hear what they release next.

then another one of my bffs (in my mind), beyonce released her new album "4." another awesome one, B. way.to.go. i've listened to it a few times since i've been sitting here at starbucks (about 3 hours), and so far number one "1+1" is my favorite. nothing like a good beyonce slow jam. not only does her body shake in ways that make you think each part has a mind of it's own, her voice can go places others just can't. she.is.amazing.

i urge you all (and by all, i mean all 10 of you) to check out both of these women. they are sexy, strong and have serious confidence/badass-ness. and they can sangggg.

love&music.

krq.

you're still my same girl

tomorrow marks the first of the three weddings i have the privilege of being part of this summer.

wedded bliss celebration #1

brooke smith & derek hartman

the first time i saw brooke was when i was in the second grade and she was in the third. i was being moved over to the third grade class for reading and english because i was super smart and needed more of a challenge. (kidding. but seriously...) the first day i walked across the hall from mrs. bias's room to mrs. murdock's, i saw a girl in the front row with the blondest hair i'd ever seen. it was almost white. actualy, it really was white. so perfectly blonde and shiney it caught my eye right away. i had dark brown curly/frizzy hair and hers seemed other-worldly to me. she had on a white t-shirt of some kind and her angel-like hair was pulled up into a bun or something. she was so pretty and i was so glad to meet her and become friends with her. from that moment, we were friends.

we had sleepovers where i'm sure we probably called boys and did things that would mortify us today. if we were anywhere near jordan sharp's house, we were playing soapy trampoline and acting a fool. (btw, soapy trampoline is exactly what it sounds like and is more fun that you think.)

i don't exactly remember when brooke got her braces put on, but i know mine were put on in fifth grade, and soon enough we were both awkward 12 year olds with metal teeth getting ready to go to middle school aka hell. kissing boys with wires and rubber bands in our mouths seemed impossible. we tried nonetheless. we played softball together, and i use the word "played" lightly. we basically sat in the dugout and talked about boys and plucking our eyebrows. she told me jessica plucked hers for the first time ad she cried. we weren't much into sports, but we tried and had fun.

i think eighth grade was when she and i both had the same long-sleeved yellow tommy hilfiger shirt and we both wore it to my 13th birthday party at beech fork. we also wore dresses that were the same color to our junior homecoming.

eighth grade trip

no matter what level of closeness we've been at over the years, we've always sort of just understood each other. she's one of those people who is the same all the time. you could go a year without seeing her (which i hope to god never happens) and then run into her at the mall and it would be like you just saw her yesterday.

here's the thing about brooke -- she's a fun friend. but you can also trust her. which is exactly what a good girlfriend should be.

when she introduced me to derek, i immediatley loved him. he is one of those people who you talk to and think "don't i know you already?" he's so kind and easy to talk to, that i felt like i met him in mrs. murdock's third grade class, too, and i'm trying to remember what he brought to show and tell. i'm pretty sure he hugged me when we met. not a handshake, a hug. but i could have just made that up because he was so friendly. not just that, though, he loves brooke like no one else i've ever seen. you've read the hallmark cards that say "my eyes light up when you come into the room." well, that really happens to derek. you can see it all over him.

i'm just glad he sees in her what i've always seen in her since that day i saw her white hair -- she's beautiful inside and out. seriously.

i hope i don't cry tomorrow. i am bad to shed some tears at weddings, but especially with people i'm close with. and i'm close with these people. and they are so in love. and they want me to be there to share the moment they become husband and wife, the ultimate team. how could i not be emotional? not to mention she's going to be beautifullll.

it's going to be wonderful tomorrow. congratulations & best wishes, B&D. i hope you are both always happy.

love.
krq.

engagement photos by the jessica smith hutchinson.

stuff of the moment

i need to write more, but i don't have a specific topic in mind. so here is a list of things i am loving lately. enjoy.

- painting my nails. they are this crazy robot silver right now. last week they had newsprint on them.

- my new water bottle from starbucks. it's glass and hella cool.

- designing things. i have a secret/potential thing coming up with a few of my friends and i'm working on the logo. stay tuned!

- lady gaga. always have loved her, but her new cd is so great i can't stand it. i haven't ventured from her name on my ipod in dayssss. "you and i" is my favorite. give it a listen. it gets me every time.

- my friends. i have some really great ones. we've all got baggage and issues, but we still stick by each other somehow and really know how to have a good time.

- summer breezes and flowy skirts.

- anything neon.

- pinterest. get invited, because it's the coolest thing ever and will take up all your time. isn't that enough to get you to check it out?

- starbucks passion tea lemonade. i mean, come on. delish.

that's about it i guess. what are some things you love right now?

loveeeee.

krq.