my apologies.

My two weeks off were amazing, thank you very much. Even though originally, it was only one, I just couldn't seem to write anything.

I had a lot of extra time, full of good books (I think I managed 10 the first week-a record for me), lots of rest, and focus on important things like school and my lovely family.

I'm ready to get back into the whole blogging world and write real posts, take to do something more than a choppy list and a few pictures. Not writing for awhile puts things in perspective, what's important. I can't wait to jump back in.

What's been up in your life? I feel like I've been gone for a long, long time- I have been reading blog updates and whatnot, but without the whole commenting back and forth, it doesn't feel the same. So let me know what's going on in your life!

to take a break.

Beginning tomorrow, I'll be taking a break. At least a week. No laptop, except for school. No blog, no Facebook. See you next Monday. Have a great week, all!

favorites.

Listening to: My Way or the Highway by Relient K. 
Quote love: “I know mice have a purpose. I’m sure of it. I just haven’t quite figured out what it is. Whatever it is, it’s in the same category as that of flies. And bananas. And Miracle Whip.” the Pioneer Woman. (we had mice in our cabin this weekend. on our beds. right next to our faces. have I mentioned how much I hate mice?)

See that book? I finished it this morning. I loved it; it was a great ending to the story. This Monday I finished Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex; more on that later. Currently I'm reading Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. So far, it's very good, a nice break from all the "candy" reading I've been doing lately (reading that is easy/not classic).

This is my favorite spot in my room. I do schoolwork, read, write, and spill my coffee on the desk. Every single piece of paper and letter that makes me laugh goes up on the wall. I have the Little Mermaid, Hawk Nelson, Ohio Avenue (yay small band!) and Waketheday (cool story: another small band that has since broken up, but used to come play at out church. whenever they were here they stayed at our house. the bassist tours with Relient K, merching for them and practicing with the band. such is my claim to fame). My two canvases with the quotes hang on that wall; I have a board with pictures of friends, plane & train tickets, all full of memories that flood when I see it. And of course, there's my bookcase. Ted Dekker, C.S Lewis, Suzanne Collins, Jane Austen, Peter David, Max Lucado, Natalie Lloyd...the list goes on. Every single book loved, organized in alphabetical order by first letter of authors last name, pulled off the shelf, stuffed in a bag, read over and over again.

I won a giveaway last week: these super cute (and warm!) fingerless gloves. I've been wearing them all day and I love them. I love things with buttons, but relatively plain, so this is right up my alley. Thanks so much girls!

I don't want to say much about fall retreat because I have this idea that anything I say will sound flat and second-hand by now. I will say that the whole thing was amazing, minus the mice, of course!

in which I rave about a book.

Listening to: Syndicate by the Fray. 
Quote love: “I figure if I shoot for the moon on trying to find something almost impossible, then I'll learn more the closer I get.” my best friend.

I've heard about this series everywhere. Heard they're amazing. Read about how great they are, how no one could wait for the third book to be published. Everywhere: "You have to read these books!" So, me being me, I put them on hold at the library had my dad put them on hold. And I waited. And waited. And waited.

And then I wrecked my bike on Tuesday. I was a mile from home without a cell phone. I had blood dripping down my hand and my shoulder was throbbing. Somehow, when I fell I managed to knock the chain off the bike. So I walked home. A mile. With blood dripping down my hand. My elbow stinging. My shoulder throbbing.

My point: I couldn't do much after that.

Dad came home, bringing with him the first two books. I laid on the couch for the whole afternoon, wearing sweats, drinking lukewarm tea, and reading my books.

Now I'm here to tell you what everyone else told me: "Read the Hunger Games! Read Catching Fire! Read Mockingjay! They're amazing. Trust me. I've read them. Except, of course, Mockingjay, which I don't get until SIX other people have read the exact same copy I'm waiting for."

I could go on and on about them, but I have the newest Artemis Fowl book sitting in front of me and a British show playing on the television, both of which require a slight bit of concentration.

Have a great weekend! I'll be up at a camp on the edge of a lake, spending lots of time with my best friends. Yes. Fall retreat. I cannot wait. So have a lovely weekend...I know I will.

this week I'm loving:

1) My new header. I love the texture, courtesy of this Flickr set. I had a hard time finding a good font to go with the rest of it, and since I didn't have time to download another one that I loved, American Typewriter will have to do for now. (For all you font-aphiles, yes, you are correct, that isn't normal AT, it's AT thin. Better?) The header is my favorite that I've ever made. Favorite as in, I've sat here staring at it for several minutes.

2) Slice by Five for Fighting. This song is super pretty. I've been listening to it on repeat for the last few days. "Have you read my blog today, 300 million little USAs, your doorstep is just a click away, we'll get together one of these days." Now I'm wanting an iTunes card so I can buy the rest of this album.
3) This quote: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." I love how true this is.
4) I have a question. Would any of you be interested in guest posting for me? Here in a few weeks I'm wanting to put my laptop on a high shelf and leave it there for the week because: 1) I want to be spending less time of the computer and more time with my family (specifically younger sister number deux, cause I never do anything with her.) and 2) This is on my bucket list, and one of the few things that doesn't require travel, so I might as well knock it out now. The only problem with this is my blog. I don't want to leave it for so long, and I have neither the time or the energy to prepare a week's worth of posts. So send me a post at: katiebk12@gmail.com by October 22, next Friday. Thanks so much guys!
5) New faces. Follower faces I don't recognize? Loving it like crazy. :) You guys are so amazing. Back when I first started blogging and I still thought it was weird to follow people I don't know, I told my dad that 50 followers were the most I expected, ever. Thanks for topping that expectation!
6) How To Train Your Dragon. I'm in love with animated movies. This one is right up there with Toy Story 3. Hiccup is such an unlikely hero. Those are my favorite kind.
7) Learning more and more about Darcy. This week I learned how aperture and shutter speed work together, and now I'm shooting in manual. It's a good feeling.

Have an amazing weekend! I hope it's full of apple cider, fall leaves, smiles and hugs.