19. Health | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

The topic of health could not have come at a more appropriate time as the past few weeks I saw all my doctors before heading away to college. 2 years ago I began having allergic reactions to fruit and nuts- anaphylactic- 9 hospitalizations in total over a 11/2 year span. All the drugs they had to give me to ensure I stayed alive really took their toll on my body and left me with less than ideal health.

I wasn't allowed to exercise for an entire year because the high doses of epinephrine left my heart so weak. On top of this I was having issues with my thyroid that no doctor in my city could figure out. Eventually I was sent to a specialist in a city about 4 hours away who diagnosed my thyroid condition as Hashimoto's disease. I was finally getting some answers!

Now, 6 months post year hiatus from all things physical, I'm starting to see some changes in my body that I'm really happy with. I'm looking more lean and strong, my energy levels are better, and my general outlook toward life is a lot more positive than it was (my heart also doesn't feel like it's going to explode, which is good haha). 

Yes Hashimoto's will be with me for life, as will my severe allergies. But they're manageable now and I feel like I can live a normal, healthy, and active life like that of any other twenty-something. I can finally say I'm in good health and I'm so freakin' thankful for that!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Organization & Time Management | Saturday Series: Back To School 3 of 4

I'm naturally quite an organized person but when I get stressed and frazzled my organizational skills tend to fly out the window. During my first year of uni I struggled like crazy with staying on top of assignments. Since I know that I will probably struggle with this again in college I am going to try my hardest to stay as organized as I can be.

I bought this planner from Staples for $16.99 and I think it will help a lot. It's in a week view format which is really good for me as it's not as overwhelming as seeing everything I need to do for an entire month. It's big enough that I can fit everything into it- assignments, projects, readings, and also outside of school things!

Seeing my schedule like this really helps me to stay organized because I can fill in the empty time slots and allocate my time to the things I need to get done. It often times feels like there isn't enough hours in the day to get everything done but seeing my schedule like this (it's so dang barren), I am able to realize that I have more than enough time to be able to accomplish all I need to.

Random Tips to Make College/Uni Life Easier:

1. Meal prep is the best idea!

2. Lay out your clothes the night before

3. Have a set morning and evening routine

4. Get enough sleep & eat good food

5. Reserve some time for yourself to relax 

I hope these tips are helpful for you- they are for me! If you have any other tips leave them in a comment below. Best of luck with back to school!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Lazy Monday, Baby Time + OOTD | Adventure Time

I had a short shift last Monday and so had a lot of free time to just enjoy the sunshine and have a lazy day. I started the day off by painting my nails with Essie's Penny Talk- which I'm LOVING- whilst watching Roman Holiday. Since it was Monday I decided I would seize the opportunity to wear my loungy MUNDAY top from Sheinside. I paired it with my favourite Jeans from Forever 21, my DLG slip-ons and my NineWest purse. My shirt and shoes are both featured in my last haul!

I felt the need to put a little appreciation photo of this purse since 1. it's gorgeous and 2. I'm absolutely smitten with it. It's an authentic NineWest purse that I got from Winners. I only had to pay a third of the price I would have if I bought it direct from NineWest! I love that it can literally go with anything- it can be dressed up and dressed down. The crocodile/snake skin print on it isn't something I'd normally go for, but on this bag I really love it and I think it works.

I'm a big fan of walking; I walk almost every day. I typically walk for fitness, doing 5km and usually ending up in a run. It seems as soon as I have my workout clothes and Nike trainers on I immediately have tonnes of energy! Instead of walking for fitness, I decided to take in my surroundings and walk for peace. I loved the way the street signs looked against the sky! I also noticed some paint on the side walk that I know for a fact has been there for ages but is something I've never really taken the time to actually look at.

I walked by this house with the most beautiful gardens! It is the type of house I can only dream of one day living in- farm style with a big wrap around porch. It turns out that it's up for sale right now, naturally, years before I can even THINK about buying a home.

I finished off my lovely evening by visiting my cousin and her son Tate. I love this kid! He's just over a year now, learning to walk and babbling away. It was so nice to see him- I've been cherishing every moment with him because at his age he's learning, growing and changing so much and so quickly! I just know that he's going to be so grown and changed by the time I come home for Christmas Break!

I love having a good lazy day. I think it's so important to take time for yourself and for the people you love to enjoy life and make memories. I know that my life will most likely span at least 70 years, but my first 20 have already flown by so quickly that I really want to appreciate and enjoy every day that I have left.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I got up to on my loungy Monday. What do you like to do on a lazy day? Please do let me know!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

30 Under 30 | Personal

1. Take a dance class

2. Start a photography business

3. Get one of my photos in a magazine

4. Travel Ireland

5. Fall in love even if it doesn't last

6. Start a family even if that's just getting a dog

7. Learn German

8. Finish the entire Bible

9. Spend a night under the stars

10. Start a retirement fund

11. Learn to make pasta from scratch

12. Buy land/a home

13. Learn to love every inch of my body

14. Spend time off the grid, alone

15. Write more letters

16. Celebrate 10 years alcohol free

17. Read 100 books

18. Start a herb and veg garden

19. Write a book

20. Maintain my blog and let it grow as I do

21. Get a dog and/or cat

22. Relearn piano

23. Find the perfect little black dress

24. Fill a scrapbook

25. Visit NYC at christmas time

26. Fly in a hot air balloon

27. Shoot a black tie wedding

28. Host a dinner party

29. Take a trip with my mom

30. Embrace my age

Do you have a 30 under 30 list? Please do let me know- even if you don't let me know some things that are on your bucket list!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

18. The Weather | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

This time of the year holds my favourite type of weather- windy, warm days with cool, brisk evenings. Beginning of fall is such a beautiful time all around, but my favourite part is definitely the weather (okay, the fashion). I love that when the days get cooler I can start layering my clothes more and start wearing my cozy leggings with big, knit sweaters, cute heeled boots, and amazing scarves! This really is my favourite time of the year for so many reasons, but I do believe that it's mainly the weather- it puts me in such a pleasant and calm mood.

With this time of the year also comes more rain; I love the rain. I love putting on my rubber boots, grabbing my umbrella and going out in the rain for a walk. Or, sitting inside with a cup of hot chocolate and just watching the rain come down. 

I find so much peace and contentment within the rain which is slightly odd as a lot of people associate the rain with a more depressed state. 

This time of the year also means that the snow is soon to fall- we usually get our first snow fall around here by the end up September/beginning of October. I absolutely love the snow and the cold that comes along with fall/winter. 

This weeks gratitude topic could not have come at a better time. As the summer draws to an end and the cooler months approach, I am really taking in the weather. I'm lucky enough to live in a country where summer doesn't last too long (although I do enjoy summer) so we get a lot more cool months than we do warm.

What is your favourite weather? Are you excited for fall/winter? Do let me know!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Backpack Essentials + DIY Notebook | Saturday Series: Back To School 2 of 4

For the second part of my back to school series I thought I would discuss backpack essentials! I'm a chronic over packer- I always end up with far too many things in my bags that I don't need.

I have decided to use this small backpack to avoid bringing unnecessary things. It's a black and cream polka dot backpack from American Eagle. I love the leather accents on it! It's very comfortable to wear, has a few little pockets inside for emergency things (like tampons, spare change, and tylenol) which is super handy!

I have divided my essentials into two categories: school essentials (left picture) and personal essentials (right side). To my classes I always bring a pencil case with pens, pencils, sticky notes, highlighters etc. I also bring a notebook that I can write notes in as well as staple in hand outs and I bring my MacBook for note taking and for online follow alongs (it's quite common in college/uni for profs to post their lecture notes the night before the class so it's nice to have a laptop to be able to follow along). My number one essential, as an organization junkee, is my day planner. This is so important to keep track of assignments and due dates.

For personals I'll start with the two things that I don't have photographed which are a water bottle and an on-the-go pre prepared snack (usually yogurt and granola or a homemade breakfast muffin- find recipe here). I will always bring along my house/apartment key, as well as my cards and change purse. I also always like to make sure I have a hand bag sized hand lotion, my deodorant, NYX powder foundation for touchups, and Baby Lips chap stick just in case! My last personal essential is, of course, my phone- usually accompanied by headphones!

As a little bonus to this post I thought I would throw in a simple DIY tutorial on how I created this super Pintrest worthy notebook. All you will need is scissors, a ruler, clear liquid glue (Martha Stuart Decoupage Glue or Mod Podge), and some old magazines!

To create this, first measure your notebook and then decide on the dimensions you'd like to use for your triangle pieces. The area I needed to cover was approximately 9"x11". I decided I wanted to do isosceles triangles that were 2" across the bottom and 3.5" high. These dimensions allowed for 18 full triangles and 6 half triangles. 

After you figure out your dimensions you'll want to scan through old magazines and cut the triangles out of the pages. You can be totally creative with this, there are no right or wrong images to choose! Once you have all your triangles, you'll want to get your liquid glue and cover the entire front of the notebook with it. Then, lay down your triangles on top of the glue. Once you have arranged your triangles the way you want them, apply another layer of liquid glue and allow to dry for a full 24 hours. This is such an easy way to make a cute and personalized notebook! You can also choose to use a different shape- squares, hexagons, etc.

I hope you liked this back to school post of backpack essentials and a DIY notebook! If you recreate this notebook or have any other essentials, do let me know!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

100 Calorie Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins | In The Kitchen: Baking

Hey guys, I haven't posted a recipe in quite some time it seems so I decided I would share with you my oatmeal breakfast muffin recipe! I have been working on perfecting this recipe for quite some time now and I've finally gotten them (what I consider to be) perfect!

So for this recipe you will need:

Equipment

Oven preheated to 350F

Muffin tin & liners

Spatula

Measuring cups and spoons

2 Mixing bowls

Whisk

Ingredients

1 cup oats

1 cup milk

1/4 cup plain greek yogurt

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter softened

11/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4-1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4-1 cup dark chocolate chips

The first step is to mix half the milk and the oats in a small bowl. This allows the oats to soften before being incorporated into the muffin mixture. This step is optional, but highly recommended as it allows the muffins to retain a lot of their moisture during the baking process.

After you set that oat and milk mixture aside you'll want to mix together the wet ingredients -greek yogurt, brown sugar, butter, vanilla- making sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.

After mixing the wet ingredients you'll want to add the flour, and baking soda gradually and mix well. Next, mix in the oat mixture and the rest of the milk. Lastly, you'll want to fold in the cinnamon and dark chocolate chips. These two are both completely to preference; I used 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I'm a huge cinnamon fanatic) and 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips.

The next step is to fill the muffin liners 1/2-3/4 of the way with the batter- it should be the exact amount for 12 muffins. Bake them in your preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, until they're golden brown. Once you take them out of the oven, transfer them out of the muffin tin and onto a cooling rack as soon as they're cool enough to touch. Taking them out as soon as you can removes them from the heat of the pan, keeping the moisture locked in instead of continuing to bake them from residual heat.

They are absolutely delicious! I cut mine in half, spread some plain greek yogurt on it and then sprinkled some cinnamon. They're so soft, moist, crumbly, and taste absolutely gorgeous. I must say, they are best consumed warm!

The best part about these muffins? They taste like something you'd pick up at a bakery- full of sugar and fat.. you know the kind that you feel guilty for eating. These taste just like them but they're only 100 calories!

I hope you guys enjoyed this recipe post. If you try it let me know how you get on and if you like them!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Exploring: Bellevue Park + New Dog + OOTD | Adventure Time

We have welcomed a new addition into our family- making the human:pets ratio even more unbalanced. Duke is a 20 month old Great Dane with the personality of a teddy bear. He is so adorably cuddly and sweet; he has no idea just how large he really is, trying to climb up onto the couch to get in a snuggle with anyone who will scratch his ears. He is underweight- we got him from a Great Dane rescue facility so his prior life isn't completely known to us- but we are working on putting some meat onto his bones.

We took him for a walk around a local park- Bellevue Park- as he loves to explore new areas, letting his nose guide him. He met a lot of kids who gave him some good head rubs and he also met a little dachshund who licked his feet and tried to play with him. He is the perfect little -big- addition to our family, we all love him so much already. He is the best bike ride buddy for me because he can actually keep up!

My eyes are open, I swear! Hahaha, they look closed because of the shadow from my glasses... 4 eyes probs. I'm throwing in a cheeky little OOTD from this jaunt around the park as I'm loving that the evenings are getting cooler and I can wear more clothes (patiently waiting for fall/winter over here haha). This whole outfit includes pieces from my last haul! My jean jacket is from Dynamite and I am absolutely head over heels for it! My black jeans are from Forever 21, my oatmeal coloured tank is from the H&M basics line. My handbag is also from H&M and my shoes are from Boathouse. 

We came across this tree whilst walking the path through the park and I couldn't resist getting a shot of it. It amazes me how many  shades of green you can capture in just one photo during the summer. Call me a tree hugger if you will, but there are very few things that I appreciate as much as I appreciate nature.

We stopped to watch a little family of ducks live their cute duck lives as the sun began it's descent from the sky. I think exploring your city and learning to appreciate where you live is such a blessing. During high school I remember everyone saying how boring our city was, how there was never anything to do, how we were always bored. Now that I've begun to immerse myself in my city and discover new places I find that I'm rarely bored and I can really appreciate how blessed I am to have grown up in such a beautiful place.

I challenge you to explore your city and learn to love where you live. Wether it's a park, a cafe, a new shop, or a different neighbourhood just start to appreciate where you are in this world. If you can enjoy where you are it's a lot easier to enjoy what you are doing.

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

17. Something You Take For Granted | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

I'm a family girl through and through, that's for sure. I love spending time with my family and I try my best to put them above anyone else. I love them so much, but I definitely take them for granted. 

Realizing that I'm moving over nine hours away in less than three weeks has really caused me to think about everything deeply and take notice of the things I will miss most. I know that I can live without my family; I will survive. But I don't want to. I love waking up in the morning and knowing that they're in the house. I love that they're around if I want to go walking with someone, or chill at home and watch a movie, or go out and run errands. They're always here... they're always here for me.

It's setting in that I won't be so close with them once I move away. It's quite sad for me to think about how our relationship will never be the same again. It may still be just as strong, but it won't be the same. 

I've definitely taken our closeness for granted. Having them around is something I've gotten really used to and I'm not sure how well I'll cope with adjusting to them not being around all the time. I'm definitely going to spend the last 2 weeks I have here showing my genuine love and appreciation toward them.

Is there anything you take for granted? Leave a comment discussing it and make sure that you show your appreciation toward whatever or whoever it is you're taking for granted.

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Freshman Goals | Saturday Series: Back To School 1 of 4

So in my blog re-vamp post I forget to mention a new set of posts that I am adding to my blog! On Saturdays I will be doing series- a collection of posts all under one topic. The series will typically span over 4-6 weeks (give or take haha) and will only be on Saturdays!

I've decided to start with a back to school series since that time of the year is coming up so freakin' quickly!

Firstly guys, look how pretty my school is; where I will be attending classes is in the photo! After an entire year off school I am finally going back to college! I'm so excited to be in the classroom again starting in September- I really do enjoy school. I'm excited for this new chapter in my life at a new school in a new city!

For my first back to school post in my back to school series I decided to share with you my goals for freshman year!

1. Maintain at least a 3.5 GPA: I'm sure that I can achieve this goal and probably do even better than that as I do know that I am a smart person. I'm setting this goal for myself because when it comes to school, I tend to stop going to a class or stop putting effort in if I'm not interested. I want to make sure that this year I put effort into every class I'm taking and reach my full potential, even if I'm not completely interested.

2. Join an extracurricular club: I'm quite an introverted and shy person by nature and so joining groups and clubs has always been such an intimidating thought to me. I want to get involved in a club or group that I'm interested in- not only will this help me to get out of my comfort zone and meet people, but it will also give me an escape from the stress of school and such.

3. Maintain my fitness: As it is now, I workout everyday at least for 20 minutes. Once school starts I know I will be busier and may have less time to workout, but I want to make sure that I do a workout at least 3 times a week as well as make healthier choices like taking the stairs or walking to and from the college instead of taking the bus.

4. Stay organized: I'm quite an organized person as it is, but I tend to struggle with managing stress. When I get stressed my mind becomes a mess and my surroundings soon follow. I want to keep my belongings and time organized to hopefully reduce the stress I will experience.

5. Hand in all assignments on time: I don't think this one will be too much of an issue for me but I'm setting this goal because I'm definitely a perfectionist. I'm not a procrastinator; I tend to take a lot more time on things than other people might because I want my final result to be perfect. I want to make sure that I hand in all my assignments even if I'm not 100% satisfied with it at the due date. Handing in something is better than getting frustrated and handing in nothing.

6. Find a part time job: I don't really need to work during school because I have worked my butt off this past year and have saved all the money I need for a year. I want to work because, again, it's something to do. I don't want to be in a new city away from my family and end up spending loads of time in my apartment being my anti-social self. I think it will be really good for me to have a reason to leave my place other than for school. Plus extra money is always handy as a student.

7. Make a new close friend: All my life I have been the type of person to have a few close friends, not loads of acquaintances. I want to have a close friend in Ottawa that I know will always be there for me as my friends here are. 

8. Join the student's association: Much like joining a club, joining the student's association will really help me to get out of my shell. I also think joining the student's association is a good idea as far as future opportunities; I can become a student ambassador or freshman co-ordinator which would be a great opportunity and look really good on my resume.

9. Be responsible with my money: I'm quite worried that (because I'm obsessed with shopping) I will get too excited by all the stores and malls in Ottawa and waste away all my money. In relation to the part time job, if I do get one that money will be my splurge money and all the money I've saved to this point will be for serious things like tuition, rent, groceries etc.

10. Enjoy every second of my college experience: This one is huge for me. College is only two years and then after that I'm out in the world working and settling down. I want to make sure that this last little hurrah at my young life is the best it can be and that I enjoy every moment.

Do you have any goals for this school year? Do let me know!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

50 MORE Facts About Me | Personal

1. I hate the feeling of carpet on my feet

2. I love the Simpsons

3. I have to lay my yoga mat out at night or I legitimately forget to workout in the morning, it's not a laziness thing, it's an idiot thing

4. I read... a lot

5. My favourite 'new' artists/bands are Little Mix, Shawn Mendes, Ariana Grande, Adele, and Sam Smith

6. My favourite 'old' artists/bands are Elton John, Queen, Billy Joel, and Journey

7. I love doing my nails and finding new nail colours

8. I like making lists and schedules

9. I always sleep on my back

10. I stare at peoples faces because I'm really fascinated by facial features

11. I don't really like Spring and Summer too much

12. I'm a PLL addict- I've seen every episode twice

13. When I'm eating a stir fry or casserole I eat all the vegetables first, then the meat, and finally the pasta

14. I've got awful insomnia but it comes in waves so thankfully it's not every night

15. I don't like showering- I do it, but I don't like it

16. I'm obsessed with Ingrid Nilsen. She was my first YouTube subscription and I watch all of her videos religiously

17. I love socks and slippers

18. I will probably live in NYC before I'm 30

19. I've wanted to dye my hair for ages but I'm a chicken

20. I've recently become OBSESSED with Rookie Blue

21. I want a great dane, a French bull dog, and an Italian greyhound

22. I love thunderstorms and rain storms

23. Cardigans are my favourite clothing piece

24. My favourite actress is Angelina Jolie

25. I love stationary- notebooks, pens, notepads, etc

26. I like watching daily vlogs more than sit down, planned videos on YouTube

27. I like shopping but I hate spending money; I'm a huge bargain hunter

28. Christmas is my favourite time of the year- I look forward to it like crazy and start planning gifts and new baking ideas in the summer

29. October is my favourite month

30. I want to live in the country side on a big piece of land, a cute house, and maybe some farm animals

31. I love hiking

32. When I get hungry I get really grumpy

33. I also get really grumpy when I'm over tired

34. I hate when people touch my food- I'll share if you ask but don't take it off my plate 

35. I like talking on the phone over texting

36. I really like school, always have

37. When I have long hair I want to cut it, when I have short hair I want to grow it out

38. My favourite number is 14

39. I always seem to gravitate toward dark clothes- grey, navy, black, etc

40. My celerity crushes are definitely Jesse Williams, Ben Bass, Jason Segel, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Darren Criss

41. I've started playing a few different instruments in the past but never stuck with them

42. I love interior design; I can't wait to own my own home and decorate it

43. I want to travel Europe, mainly Ireland, England and Scotland

44. My health has always been a struggle for me- I have PCOS, hypoglycaemia, life threatening food allergies, AND autoimmune thyroiditis

45. My style is either very girly or very Tumblr, not much in-between

46. I like the smell of carnivals, the mixture of caramel corn, deep friend foods, and cotton candy!

47. I can't wait for my 30s; I've always looked forward to having a home, a husband, a job, kids, etc

48. I love the way the moon reflects on the water

49. I can't keep plans alive- I once killed a cactus

50. I'M MOVING TO OTTAWA AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Burnt to Bronze in 7 days! + My Breakup with SPF | Lesson Learned

My whole life it has been absolutely pounded into my head to not leave the house without my sunscreen on- summer or winter, rain or shine. I always considered it to be a blessing that wearing sunscreen became something I never had to think about since I am of Irish descent- my father was from Ireland before he moved to Canada- and I burn very easy; I usually have at least one burn every summer. Wearing SPF seems like a no brainer, right? It protects you from harmful UV rays, prevents skin cancer, and prevents awful sunburns. Or not...

My friends and I decided we would have a nice lounge day by the pool so I got out my bikini, my cover up, and of course my SPF. I doused my entire body in waterproof SPF 60 sunscreen before going to my friends house and re-applied about an hour into our lounge. I didn't notice myself getting pink- or turning colour at all so I didn't really think that I needed to cover myself up anymore than I was. I was wearing a light cotton shirt undone over my bikini (so it really only covered my upper arms and shoulders), my sunglasses and a cute little hat for extra protection over my face (as I only had SPF 15 on under my makeup).

Day 1

 As you can see the SPF 60 didn't help me what-so-ever. The entire front side of my body was covered in a bright red, very painful sunburn. My sunburn care was very intensive as I wanted to avoid blistering and peeling. I will share this "sunburn routine" if you will, with all of you as I miraculously didn't peel at all! I went from a lobster to a sun-kissed darling in just 7 days!

 I immediately took a bath using the Aveeno bath treatment (I can't remember the exact name of it as I threw out the packages, but it was in a blue and cream box). After my bath I applied a generous amount of aloe vera, let it dry, then applied the Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion mixed with a bit of generic vitamin E cream.

Day 3

As you can see, by day 3 my skin was already looking significantly better. I continued to take a bath every night using the Aveeno bath treatment and followed up with my aloe, then moisturizer combo. On day 3 I decided I had to bite the bullet before I began to peel, and exfoliate- it was very painful. I used the Aveeno daily moisturizing body gel on a loofah and gently exfoliated my whole body. After the shower I applied aloe and my moisturizer mixture.

Day 3

These were the types of outfits I lived in for the first 3 days of my sunburn. Light cotton, nothing abrasive- definitely no jeans! It was kind of torturous as I'm a huge lover of denim, but it was worth it as the rubbing of the clothes on my skin was not comfortable at all. The only time I wasn't wearing outfits like this was when I went to work- yes, I even left my house looking like this.

Day 5

By the 5th day of my burn it no longer hurt at all, hadn't peeled, and was already turning brown! The only uncomfortable part at this stage was I was slightly itchy. I stopped my daily bath and aloe application by this point but continued to lightly exfoliate to avoid peeling and moisturized twice a day with the Aveeno lotion/vitamin E cream mixture.

Day 7

After just a week of my rigorous skin care plan I was no longer burnt, but completely brown! Okay, maybe I'm still a bit pink, but for only a week this is absolutely amazing! I had no peeling what so ever which is the best and most amazing part of it all!

If I'm being honest I felt really betrayed when I realized how burnt I had gotten. Betrayed by the sun, betrayed by my sunscreen, and betrayed by everyone in my life who convinced me that I needed to wear sunscreen to be safe. Clearly that wasn't the case as I continued to burn every summer without fail. I decided to do some research about sunscreen and found some really interesting reads on the subject.

3 Reasons You Shouldn't Wear Sunscreen

Should You Use Sunscreen?

Why I Don't Wear Sunscreen

It was really interesting for me to research this as I never actually had before, and even more interesting for me to read that sunscreen can be just as harmful as the sun itself. Based on my research I have now decided that I will never wear sunscreen again. I plan to protect my skin in other ways including a diet rich in healthy fats, and covering up my skin when I'm going to be out and about in the sun. I read another article that I can't seem to find for the life of me that said spending 20 minutes a day out in the sun with no protection is very beneficial for vitamin D absorption without putting your skin at risk.

I am positive that based on this experience and the others from summers past, I will no longer be suckered into the hype of sunscreen- I am breaking up with SPF. Let me know what you think about the whole SPF topic and if you use or don't use it!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

16. The Simple Things In Life | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

I feel like everyone has those little things that instantly make them feel happy or content- simple things. I have made a list of my favourite simple things in life that I am so grateful for. When I experience any of the following 20 things I am immediately uplifted- even if I'm having a bad day these simple things can turn my mood around. I think it's so important to appreciate the simple things in life because you can't control everything. If you can learn to enjoy and appreciate the simple things you will find that your life will be more positive and enjoyable overall.

1. Sleeping in on a rainy day

2. Swimming outside at night

3. Receiving and sending snail mail

4. When shuffle plays all the right songs

5. The first sip of water when you're really thirsty

6. Pull through parking spots

7. The smell of Grandma's house

8. Fuzzy and warm sweaters straight from the dryer

9. Freshly washed sheets

10. Good hair/skin days

11. The feeling after a good workout

12. Lounging in the warm sun

13. A long hug

14. Finding shapes in clouds

15. Finishing a project or task

16. Movie nights in with people I love

17. Wearing my favourite pair of jeans

18. Feeling organized

19. Finishing an amazing novel

20. Making someone smile

I'm really grateful for all these simple things in my life because they help to keep me positive and happy even when the bigger things in my life aren't going completely to plan. What simple things in life do you enjoy?

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

Forever 21, Dynamite, La Vie en Rose + more! | Fashion Haul

This is me. No not literally, but figuratively this is me. There aren't many things I love more than a good day of shopping- there's something relaxing about it yet thrilling when you find the perfect item AND it's on sale. If you're a shopping addict like myself then you'll understand, but if not then there is no way you possibly could!

So I did some online shopping from Forever 21 and Sheinside. Then my family took a little weekend trip down to Sudbury where I spent far too much money as they have stores we don't! I hit up La Vie en Rose, Pantorama, Aeropostale, the Apple store, Old Navy, and Dynamite. 

So here's my haul!

Forever 21 $22.90

I ordered this bikini top from Forever 21 because I realized that all my bikinis are bright or patterned and I felt like I just really wanted a black bikini. I adore the in-between the boob area (no clue what that's actually called but I'm sure it has a name hahaha). I have already worn this to the beach and to camp- let me tell you it is the most comfortable bikini top I own! It has a good amount of support which is hard to find in a bandeau bikini top, and it also doesn't feel like it's going to fall down all day which is a huge plus if you're in the itty-bitty-titty-committee like I am!

Forever 21 $9.90

If you've seen any of my fashion posts, you'll know that Forever 21 jeans are my all time favourite EVER! So, I ordered a pair in black (and I already love them).

Sheinside $7.99 each

Cutest shirts ever, am I right!? My first order from Sheinside came in on Thursday and I am not at all disappointed! I'm so excited to get these washed and ready to wear!

Boathouse $39.99

I've always wanted a pair of Vans but can never find a pair that I feel really fit me properly (insert sad face emoji here). When I tried these on at Boathouse I immediately knew that they were perfect- they fit so well and they just feel like they're really well made, good quality shoes.

H&M $15.00

When I saw this bag at H&M I couldn't see the tag but I knew I would buy it. It is the perfect size, in my opinion, and structured enough that you can open the zipper and the sides don't flop down- which annoys the crap out of me. Then I saw the price tag and was absolutely sold!

H&M $7.00

I picked up these little grey flats from H&M as well- they're simple and perfect for an evening out in summer and to transition to fall.

Total $221.80

Brace yourselves... my family and I had a little weekend jaunt down to Sudbury and I came back with a fair few bags!

La Vie en Rose $6.99

I can't go to a La Vie en Rose shop and not purchase a pair of flip flops- I absolutely swear by them. I was drawn to these ones because 1) I love gold and 2) I thought they looked really cool with the contrast of black!

La Vie en Rose $14.99

The next thing I picked up was this cotton pyjama set. I love the plain grey tank top with the patterned bottoms. It's a really perfect set for summer!

La Vie en Rose $37.99

The last thing I picked up is the absolute softest pink bath robe! I have a heavier, fuzzier, fleece bath robe for winter, but I got this one because it's a really light cotton/terry cloth blend that's perfect for summer!

Apple Store $64.99

I picked up this case for my Macbook Pro from the Apple store as I didn't have one yet. I really love the colour of this one- I love the teal and I love that it is translucent so you can still see the laptop itself through it. It was more than I originally planned on spending on a case, but when I was in the store the salesman proved how durable it really is by dropping the Macbook they have on display in the store in this case from my height and it came out completely fine. I couldn't pass up that kind of protection especially for such an expensive laptop!

Pantorama $10.00

I picked up this little black workout top from Pantorama on a sale rack for 75% off! It doesn't show up in the photo, but the sides are mesh which I think is a really interesting detail.

Aeropostale $3.95

I then headed over to Aeropostale- they were having massive sales! I loved this tank as soon as I tried it on. It's a simple white racer back but it has a very slight high-low hemline and it flows out a little bit at the bottom which makes it feel a little dressier and very feminine.

Aeropostale $7.95

I was immediately drawn to the colour of this sweater- it's so pretty! I also love the glitter letters and the light cotton material. It's such a perfect sweater for cooler summer evenings. It also has a really cool open style back!

 Old Navy $6.99

We then hit up Old Navy where I found this adorable workout top! I love the bight pink and the floral accent on the T-bar back.

Dynamite $10.00

I love this simple grey v-neck t-shirt from Dynamite. It's a really good quality cotton that feels amazing against your skin!

Dynamite $10.00

I fell in love with this skirt as soon as I saw it- it's a simple white lace skirt. I'm excited to style this in both dressier and more casual ways!

 Dynamite $40.00

The last purchase I made was the ADORABLE denim jacket. I am obsessed with it! I think it's the perfect light wash for this time of the year. It ends just around the waist so it's not too long but it's also not cropped (which I really didn't want) and it's a light weight denim- perfect for cooler summer nights. I'm smitten.

I hope you enjoyed this haul! I am really happy with all of my purchases as I love everything I bought and I think I will get a lot of wear out of everything.

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn