First of all. I have no idea if I’ve written this post before. After six years of blogging there’s bound to be some repeats but I couldn’t find it so I’m going with it.

The other day at work an IT person that I’ve never met sent an email to a different coworker and referred to me as Kate. And I was appalled. Okay not appalled, annoyed? Miffed? Any of those.

My name is Katelin. And if you’ve never met me and we’ve never chatted or had any sort of interaction I’d like for you to call me that. Katelin, simple as that.

[Occasionally I wear sombreros but that's a post for another day]

Yes, I do frequently go by Kate and respond to Kate, but it’s usually friends and family calling me that. To me, Kate has it’s own speicalness and not something a stranger can just assume they can use.

I remember the first time a boy I liked in college called me Kate and I wasn’t even sure he was talking to me. But he was. And it was so lovely. If he was using a nickname it just had to mean we were friends. And every time my friends say “Hey Kate” I answer immediately and I know they’re not calling me Kate out of laziness (okay sometimes) but out of endearment and friendship. And when Matt now says “Kiss ME Kate” (okay I made that up, he’s never said that but my musical loving heart would adore him even more if he did, haha)  Hell, when Matt just says Kate it’s special as we’ve morphed into that couple that rarely uses our actual names except to get each other’s attention.

Names are a funny thing and maybe I’m going a little overboard with this but I love my name, I truly do. I love every part of Katelin. It’s special, it’s lovely and it’s quite phonetic (ha). And if you want to shorten it and call me Kate, just ask and maybe I’ll let you into the VIP club.

And in case you were curious (I know you are), some of the other nicknames I’ve had (and respond to) over the years include:
K$
Katewin
Friendito
Kake
Kakelin
Trouble
Big Sister
K1
KRad
Cali
Katie Lee
Katie Kate Kate

Some of them are totally obvious other make no sense at all, but I love them all the same.

What about you? Any nicknames you go by? Do you feel weird when strangers call you something other than your name?

happy thursday!

Two weeks in a row of Hollywood news? Aren’t you so impressed? You should be. Before you know it I’ll be back to blogging like normal with Hollywood and wine reviews and just, well actually let’s not get too ahead of ourselves okay?

Anyhoo, starting off this week in cuteness we have Chris Hemsworth (swoon) and daughter India looking oh so very precious. I mean, cut it out with the cute, I can barely handle it.

Also bringing some major cuteness we have Pink and daughter Willow. Her little bitty smile is too much, they are just the sweetest.

In other Hollywood news Ellen Page and Alexander Skaarsgard are an item, and a pretty cute one…Hilary Clinton joined Twitter and her bio is pretty excellent…Jonah Hill might be a jerk, womp…Paris Jackson, 15 year old daughter of Michael Jackson, attempted suicide last week and she’s currently getting treatment and hopefully a whole lot of love right now…Erin Brokovich was arrested for a DUI over the weekend and her mug shot is pretty horrendous…and this picture just makes me think of Where’s Waldo? Really it’s like Where’s Leo?

In some favoriteness…
Happiest of birthdays to Pacey Whitter/Charlie Conway/Joshua Jackson! Apparently 35 is the year of newsboy hats and knit sweaters. Okay then. He’s still adorable.

The Rock is my new favorite person in Hollywood. Seriously, his Twitter stream is amazing (seriously, follow him) And he just seems so nice and genuinely grateful for his success. Also he’s had a movie in the Top 10 for the past sixteen weeks, so that’s saying something.

In music news…
Alabama Shakes. Apparently I am so late to this party but my goodness I’ve had “Hold On” and “Always Alright” on repeat. And the fact that the lead singer is a 24 year old woman is just amazing. Despite the crazy face she makes while performing (her and John Mayer may have the craziest) her voice is just so good and I am sold.

NPH. Needs to just host everything. I didn’t watch the Tony’s but his opening number is pretty dang amazing, nicely done Sir, nicely done.

PBS Studios does one hell of a remix. And they’ve done yet another one for Mister Rogers that is quite excellent. Enjoy.

In movie news…
Divergent. We have a picture of Four (actor Theo James) and SWEET MERCY. I mean, yes I’m on board with this. Also if you have no idea who Theo James is, That’s Normal breaks it down for us pretty well.

In TV news…
Dexter. I can’t believe the final season is so close. EW posted some new crazy pictures from their feature and my goodness.

Sons of Anarchy. Charlie Hunnam was selected for an Emmy’s panel for Variety (which is sort of mean since the Emmy’s continue to ignore this wonderful show) and it’s pretty entertaining. It’s Charlie, some other Brits and William H. Macy. An interesting combo of people for sure.

Friday Night Lights. There was a reunion over the weekend in Austin and I wasn’t invited. FOR SHAME. There was also mention of a movie. And if that happened, oh man. Also, I’ve noticed several of my friends are watching this show for the first time and every time anyone mentions it I go all bezerk in caps lock and praise my love. I’m sorry. But not really. BECAUSE TEXAS FOREVER, TAMI TAYLOR Y’ALL. Also, I need a Dillon Panthers shirt, like stat.

Lastly in WTFness a former contestant on Britain’s Got Talent egged Simon Cowell during a live taping of the show. Yes, she egged him. Like an angry teenager. It’s just so weird. And random.

Anything I missed? Amanda Bynes still driving the crazy train?

happy Hollywood tuesday!  

Those weekends with not a lot of plans but a whole lot of relaxing? Yes, those are nice every once and a while and I love it.

Friday: After a slow day of work I came home to have a slow, laid back evening. I enjoyed some sorbet and we watched Rebel Without a Cause. I’d never seen a James Dean movie before and it was on my list of movies to watch, so we figured, why not? James Dean, total dream boat. 50s lingo, totally awesome. And that movie, a perfect vintage evening in.

Saturday: Woke up early to walk through my neighborhood before embarking on an afternoon of errand running. We bought mirrors for the apartment, I picked up new books to read at the library and I spent too much money at Target. It was nice that once we were done with everything Matt suggested a lunch date at a place I loved and we enjoyed a little afternoon break.

The rest of the evening was spent cheering on the Kings and being Matt’s sous chef as we cooked dinner for my sister-in-law’s family. Twas quite lovely.

Sunday: Started the day off with my friend Amanda’s bridal shower. It was so fun to celebrate and meet some of her friends and hear some stories about her earlier years (as I’ve only known her the past five) and mingle with her groom (my HS friend)’s family. We played the toilet paper game and a trivia game and there was a sundae bar. And at one point every one there was crying from the sweetest gift I’d ever seen (a silver bracelet engraved with a drawing by the bride’s father) and then laughing again and just, twas lovely.

After the shower I came home and basically napped the afternoon away. The rest of the evening Matt and I ordered dinner in and watched the new Die Hard movie because, why not?

And how was your weekend? Any showers or bad movies? Naps or wine drinking?

happy monday!

When I saw this Cheerios commercial last week my first thought was “My goodness that girl is ADORABLE.” My second thought was “She could totally be my future daughter.”

I actually play that game a lot. Whenever I see a cute light skinned child with crazy curly hair either out and about or on TV, in a movie in a magazine, I totally say they could be my future child. Hopefully that doesn’t sound as creepy as it does as I read that right now, haha. But really, I just love seeing little mixed kids out and about. Reminds me of my siblings and some of my cousins and my own future kids. Hurray!

Moving on. So.  What was the BIG DEAL with this commercial that caused Cheerios to shut down it’s YouTube comments? Horrible people. Well more like narrow minded people that don’t like when their ads start to reflect what actually occurs in society.

This article brought to my attention something that is usually overlooked. Over the years television shows and movies have had plenty of interracial couples (still not enough if you ask me, but we are getting there and I’m pretty sure Shonda Rimes is leading the charge) yet advertising has stayed simple, traditional if you will. By introducing this interracial couple Cheerios has opened up some pretty big doors that have lead to a whole lot of discussions. I also hope it’s opening up doors to a lot of changes. And to more interracial couples in ads that aren’t just black and white.

With that, props to Cheerios for sticking by their commercial and trying something different. Props to them for making an adorable commercial about a cute little family with an overly concerned daughter.  And props to Cheerios for finally getting with the times and representing a different kind of American family.

My hope is that one day soon this will be the norm and it won’t be such a BIG DEAL any more.

happy thursday!

So remember when I used to post about Hollywood ALL OF THE TIME. Yeah, I’m sorry about that. It’s been a while. And I’m back. And I missed good ole Hollywoodland chat. So never fear, this one is a doozy, we’ve got lots of catch up on. So here we go.

Starting out this week’s cute we have little Louis Bullock donning his best Batman outfit and impersonation. Seriously this little guy is too precious and love how amused Sandy is.

Also bringing the uber cute we have the Lachey family. I mean. Stop it. Little Camden is such a cutie and they’re just a surprisingly adorable little family.
In other bebe news, Kate Winslet is expecting her third child (hurray!) and maybe if it’s a boy she’ll name it Leo (high hopes here)…Channing Tatum is now a dad to a little girl named Everly, so that’ll be adorable…have you every wanted to eat like Gwyneth Paltrow? Well this girl did and it was a hilarious adventure….Phillip Seymour Hoffman is out of rehab for apparent heroin abuse, hopefully he’s got that ish checked….If you were curious about Donald Faison and Cacee Cobb (Jessica Simpson’s BFF)’s wedding, have no fear, there is a video and it’s actually pretty cute and adorable and super wedding blog worthy…Remember adorable Mara Wilson from Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda? Well she wrote a great post about why child stars go crazy, hopefully Amanda Bynes et all will take note…If you ever questioned Helen Mirren’s awesomness, never question again. She had tea with a dying boy as the QUEEN because the actual Queen was too busy. Seriously though, this is the best….Also amazing and British? Patrick Stewart. His response about domestic abuse is just amazing and awe inspiring and I want to hug this man too….lastly, coming from Britain, the royal trio, the three musketeers, Kate and her merry men looking so dapper as they celebrate the Queen:

In some favoriteness…
NPH is the hosting master. He’s hosting the Tony’s this weekend and the Emmy’s in the Fall. And I am so okay with that. Now let’s just line him up for the Oscar’s and call it a day okay? Also he’s pretty great at Instagram.

Josh and Diane. Together again. And looking cute as ever.

Danielle Fishel posted some pictures from her early years of stardom with some of her famous friends and just so many teen memories. The 90s were hilarious.

In today’s movie news…
Did you know that a lot of movies could be described in the same way? Buzzfeed/Reddit brings the laughs yet again with this latest revelation of movie synopsis similarities.

Divergent. We have another still. One that I can’t quite figure out how I feel yet. The Dauntless don’t look badass enough and I hope this movie is good, I really do.

Don Jon. Have you heard of this movie? Do you want to see this movie? It’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a guido and ScarJo and just, it looks kind of funny. And JGL directed it, so you know, that could mean some things.

In TV news…
Sons of Anarchy. I just am so excited for this season. So many things. Also let’s just take a moment to read this great interview with Ron Pearlman. And can we discuss Charlie Hunnam? Of course we can. Hello, JAX.

Dexter. Is gearing up for its final season and oh, the previews. I’m so curious where this season is going and if Deb or Dex is going to die and WHERE IS HARRISON!? Why is the baby always in peril? Seriously.

Grey’s Anatomy. Damn you Shonda Rimes, damn you. There is a lot up in the air and this woman is toying with my emotions.

Once Upon a Time. Does anyone watch this show but me? I love this show a little too much. But the finale, my goodness. Henry!? What happened to Henry? And Peter Pan is some evil lord character? I am not a fan. Peter Pan is my favorite. Also are we going to meet Aladdin and Jasmine? That would be lovely. Also, I’d like to never see Mulan and Aurora again but alas it looks like they will be back. My. Goodness.

Game of Thrones. SOMETHING BIG HAPPENED AND EVERYONE IS DEVASTATED. Is basically what I took from my Twitter feed and Facebook stream. Just a guess though.

Arrested Development. Season Four is apparently not that funny but still funny and still a big deal. I have no idea since I’ve never seen a single episode of this show. Perhaps this summer I will finally remedy that thanks to Netflix.

Lastly in WTFness we have Kid Rock’s Facebook page and the gloriously bizarre/random/weird/awesome? pictures he has.

Anything I missed? Do you feel all caught up on the Hollywood gossip? Hurray!

 happy fake tuesday!

It’s weird when your weekend can have sad moments surrounded by happy moments and then just all those other moments in between. And this past weekend was one of those.

Friday: A very lazy evening at home watching random movies on TV (I watched Chronicle ONLY because it had Vince Howard from FNL in it, haha), reading and just being. And it was quite the loveliest.

Saturday: I got to enjoy a morning to myself with pancakes and a walk and some apartment cleaning. The afternoon was a BBQ to commemorate our friend’s dad who passed away. Unfortunately the Kings and the Pens both lost but the company overall was a good time celebrating life. The evening was spent at our local dive bar hanging out and loving our new apartment just a little bit more.

Sunday: Matt and I made our way down to San Diego to celebrate our good friend Lucie’s baby! Well her soon-to-be-born baby. I’ve known Lucie since freshmen year of high school and just, it’s so exciting to see another friend on their way to parenthood. And it was so fun to meet all of her work friends and just catch up with her and her husband and her family

After the shower Matt and I got to meet up with two of his college friends (which have become dear friends to me too) at a local bar for drinks and just plain ole catching up time. It had been so long since we’d all been together and it was so fun to catch up. It was especially fun to see the girls as Marisa had just finished a marathon that morning (I have athletic friends, ha).

Eventually we made our way home and called it an early night in bed with our books, seriously all that driving (and being a passenger) is just plain exhausting.

And how was your weekend? Any celebrations?

happy tuesday!

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about things that make me happy. More specifically, places that make me happy. Of course I like being with my favorite people but sometimes the place is just as important as the people.

So in no particular order, here are some of my happy places:

Any movie theater. Well if you give me a cushiony movie theater with cheap tickets I’ll probably like it more. But really, I’ve always said that walking into a movie theater is my happy place. I always get so excited to see the preview and eat popcorn and the movie, ah, the movie. As long as I can remember I’ve been enamored with movies and seeing them in theaters and although I don’t go nearly as much as I used to, I still love it just the same.

My alma mater, Denison University. The very first time I stepped onto that campus, I knew. I had found a good place. A little gem nestled away in the small town of Granville, Ohio far away from my California roots. Every time I’ve returned it’s been with a grin on my face as I’m usually surrounded by my dearest friends at a place we all called home.

Las Vegas. Sort of. Before Bloggers in Sin City I’d been to Vegas three times: a family trip, a quick passerby and for New Year’s Eve the year I was 21 (I’ll let you imagine how eventful and insane that experience was). Those previous times I’d played video games, had a legal drink and absorbed all the nightlife in Vegas I thought there was. And then BiSC happened. And it was a constant place of happiness. I know it had a lot (okay the majority) to do with the people that came every year, but the city. The city that I thought wouldn’t offer much to the girl that didn’t gamble or really care about clubs any more, offered me a different adventure and crazy shenanigans every year without fail. And I was happy. Now if I ever go back to Vegas I’m not sure if it’ll be the same kind of happy place but it’ll be something nonetheless.

My apartment. Ever since we moved into our new place I’ve been so happy. There is just SO MUCH SPACE. And yes, the space has also meant a bit of mess, but we’re fixing it and ah, it’s almost all done. And it just makes me so happy to have so much room to spread out, a patio to read on, a hallway to put pictures up and a bedroom to finish decorating. And every time we’ve had people over I’ve just been so happy to relax at home and just, yes. This is where we are meant to be living right now and I am happy.

So tell me, what are some of your happy places?

happy weekend!

You know those weekends where the weather is perfect and you get to hang out with your favorite people and just, the bestest.

Friday: Hurray for a short day at work! I got home with plenty of time to clean up the apartment and work on some more decorating (we’re almost there and pictures will be coming shortly!). Eventually Matt came home and we had ourselves a little date night with the trekkies. Seriously, I don’t know what it is, but I love those Star Trek movies SO MUCH. And this one was no different, it was so good and hurrah summer blockbusters.

Saturday: Instead of our monthly girl’s brunch Nicole hosted a fabulous bridal shower for the wonderful Jamie. We had delicious food and wore tiaras and got coffee drunk and just, had the best time laughing and talking wedding and just talking. And then Nicole sent us all home with macaroons and it was so cute and tasty I had to take a picture.

After a lovely afternoon of brunching I relaxed with just enough time to get ready for dinner with my parents. We celebrated my parent’s 33rd wedding anniversary and our birthdays (albeit belated) with tasty prime rib and a bottle of wine and just, it was so wonderful. We rounded out the night playing tripoli at their house with my brother and just had a good time all around.

Sunday: Made our way to Old Town to celebrate my cousin’s 30th birthday with the whole family. We took over a room at Buca di Beppo and had a crazy good time with lots of laughing and catching up and I just love my family. I just wish I had taken some pictures, alas, memories it is, ha.

After lunch Matt and I somehow got things ready to host some family over for an impromptu BBQ. Matt got to use the new grill and we watched movies and had a grand ole time hanging out.

Once dinner was wrapped up me, Matt, my dad, my aunt and my uncle all made our way to the local watering hole for some late night drinks. And our late night drinks turned into a late night mistake (albeit a free one so I guess that makes it better?).

We all had a fun time hanging out and I was pretty convinced it was Saturday the whole time. Nonetheless, I’m just so lucky to have so many good people in my life and good weekends to hang out with them.

Monday: So. Apparently I can survive four days in Vegas but I can’t handle bad decisions and cheap wine because I had a hangover, and it wasn’t fun. However it was funny to go and see The Hangover III, while hungover. I mean it was all funny. The rest of the afternoon I was pretty useless despite us having guests over to BBQ. I mean I tried to be a good hostess and hung out with my friends for a little bit, but I was not myself and it showed, ha. In any case, I can’t wait to have more BBQs and dinner parties and movie watching nights because it’s just so fun to have people over.

And how was your long weekend? Any BBQing? Or movie watching? Or nap timing?

happy wednesnday!

When I was poolside in Vegas I took this picture with Nicole and Doni and instantly instagrammed it. Maybe it was the mimosas or the pure happiness I was feeling, but I didn’t hesitate a second to put a picture of me in a two piece on the internet.

Fast forward to Monday night when I was looking through my pictures and I uploaded the same picture to Flickr with a little more reserve. It was out there. For the world to see. Me, in a two piece.

Before Vegas I had tried on the bikini for the first time in two years and asked Matt if I looked like a hooker. He said I didn’t. So I went with it. My boobs looked like boobs and not hooker boobs, so I was okay. I still packed my one piece just in case I chickened out.

And clearly I didn’t chicken out. Part of it was due to Brandy.

PSA: If you have a body, you are swimsuit ready. Own it and let’s share nachos poolside. Deal? Deal. #bisc

— brandyismagic (@brandyismagic) May 17, 2013

So I wore it, I loved it and I was actually complimented on it. And the world didn’t end. And it was okay.

I’ve never really talked about a struggle with weight here because it’s been so hit and miss over the years and has morphed into some struggle with my boobs or my height or whatever else is plaguing me that day. I’m working on it. I’m getting much better, clearly.

And it’s stories like this one and  people like Brandy and everyone else that reached out to me on Twitter when I shared my nervousness over the picture in the first place.

You wouldn’t call someone you love fat or useless or incapable or ugly, so why are you doing it to yourself?

— brandyismagic (@brandyismagic) May 22, 2013

So, eff it I say.  One piece, two piece, any piece – I need to be happy in my own skin and I am working on it and I am so close to being there.

happy weekend!

Clearly it’s taken me a while to get my thoughts together about this past weekend. And really, I still don’t really have the words. I mean I do, but I don’t. Usually I’d recap this weekend by the day and all the things we did but I feel like even that wouldn’t fully capture the amazingness I experienced.

So with that, I’m just going to share the things I learned this weekend. Like a whole bunch of random points accompanied by pictures and jokes and mish mash and just, here we go -

It’s never too early in the evening to wear a ridiculous tutu.

Drunk shopping is the best kind of shopping.

Also the most entertaining.

Canada’s border patrol consists of a polar bear eating salmon.

Glitter hair spray is a thing and it is glorious. Almost as glorious as glitter cocaine, almost.

SEQUINS!

If Terra is crying, I’m probably crying too

Amber has the best muppet dance moves ever. Exhibit A.

Sometimes you really just have to tell a guy to give up, it’s not going to happen.

8 second hugs are what bonds are made of. And awkwardness.

If a bunch of people are dressed in white, everyone will assume you all just got married, to each other. Totally makes sense.

Erin is the happiest drunk person that ever was.

Juice box wine is the classiest way to drink it

Or in a stacked glass because Stack Wines is just SO SMART.

Pool time breakfast burritos taste better than regular breakfast burritos

If you’re riding an escalator, you’re escalating. It’s also an excellent spot for a photo op.

 Casey has more energy than anyone I’ve ever met and it’s contagious and wonderful and someone get that man a dance show stat.

Also let’s get Jamie a show, The Jamie Show if you will. And they will serve Mac and Cheese.

PopChips are excellent hangover food or regular food or any food.

Cirque du Soleil’s O is amazing but also incredibly soothing. So if you’re tired, don’t go. You might fall asleep.

Tara and Brandy take amazingly entertaining photos. All of the time. And their hair is fabulous. And they make me smile. A whole lot.

Drunk people have no filters, hence why a woman stumbled over asking Tara if she was Canadian and asked me if I was mixed.

300 Million dollars would sufficiently fund The Fucking Awesome Academy where everyone would call Brandy Professor Xavier.

Nic always looks fabulous, even when we say “be crazy!”

Berto and Bradley are so debonair in matching suits, they make Miami Vice look good.

Nicole is a rock star. But I actually already knew that.

And FIVE years in Vegas together is a most wonderful feeling.

Because, Vegas. Is a legit answer for almost anything and everything that happened last weekend and the days following.

I am so blessed to have met so many wonderful people and know that they will always be in my life.

So yes, I learned a lot of things. I learned that people took chances to be there and that we all stepped out of our comfort zones. And I realized that you can throw your own judgements and concerns aside for the weekend and that everyone is so loving and supportive. I realized that it’s okay to be insanely happy and to do crazy things. I learned that my blog makes people happy which in turn made me blush and then even more happy.

So thank you Nicole, thank you Vegas and thank you every single one of you that attended Bloggers in Sin City any of the five years. You each made my life a little more wonderful and a whole lot more entertaining.

[And if you want a better recap of four days in Vegas I very much recommend Dominique's Storify. It's fabulous and just, Vegas.]

happy thursday!