A Little Info...

So, personally, I like to know basic things about people. I figure the majority of others agree. So I thought I'd make a little post that gives some of those basic facts about me.

My name is Kathleen (though most call me Kat), I'm currently 28 (will be 29 soon at the end of April) though I still feel like I'm 19 (and look like I'm 23, apparently, not that I'm complaining). I currently live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, though I grew up on a multitude of Canadian Army bases (including one in Lahr, Germany, from '85-'89, which bred an affinity for all things German in me, except for Sauerkraut). Before Toronto I lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, for about nine years. It took me a few years to realize that, in the grand scheme of things, I am, by definition, a Scotian. I love Toronto, and I feel at home here, but I am apparently not bitchy/stuck up enough to be "from" Toronto. Which is cool. Nova Scotians are an awesome bunch (except for certain areas in Cape Breton, but they don't call themselves Scotians anyway, so that's alright).

I am currently in a relationship with a wonderful guy who has enabled me to fully embrace aspects of myself and my personality that I hid before (nothing that will land me in jail, don't worry;). I'm not the type of person who believes in soul mates or destiny. If I were to go through life single, it really wouldn't be a problem, because I love myself more than I will ever love anyone else. I don't know if I'll ever get married, and it's not something I worry about. Luckily, my guy feels the same way. We've discussed marriage before, and we've discussed families, and neither of us feel any sort of pressure whatsoever (even though it seems like everyone else our age is getting married and having kids). I could definitely see myself marrying him, but there's no necessity for it. We both regard marriage as nothing more than paperwork, anyway. I was never the girl who dreamed about her wedding, after all. In fact the only wedding I ever want to have would take place in the middle of the German Black Forest in the winter time. I don't think I'll ever have the money to pull that off, hence no worries about it. But the guy and me, we're the type who would feel perfectly comfortable in just going down to the justice of the peace's office and signing paperwork, then getting our families and friends together for a barbeque on the beach to "celebrate" our official joining. Nothing fancy. I don't do fancy. Not unless someone rich is paying for it. ;)

(Me and my guy, who henceforth shall be referred to as Kris!)

There are many ways I could define myself - but none of them are consistent enough for my liking. I do a lot of writing, and even have a few novels planned - but I've yet to finish any of them. My attention span for muses flits and flickers like a candle, and just when I get right into the middle of something, another thought comes along and distracts me. One day I'll finish one of those novels and have it published. I just don't know when "that day" will be.

I love to dance. My only regret in life (honestly) is that I never realized earlier on how much I loved dancing. I truly do believe that had I realized that earlier on, I could have gone on to be a professional dancer. It's painful sometimes to think about it, because I love to dance, but it's something I've come to accept. But now I don't even get out to dance as much as I'd like. I've been saying for years that I need to rectify this. Hopefully this year I will actually achieve this.

I am a huge fan of soccer (or football, if you're anywhere other than North America). A few years ago I was just getting out of a five year relationship (which had resulted in an engagement, yikes; though he was a wonderful guy I must admit, just not right for me) and found myself in a new city, with no friends of my own. That was 2007, though, and that is when Toronto FC got their start in the MLS. I had already secured myself a season ticket back in September of '06, though, and I was looking forward to the start of the season.

(Columbus, Ohio, April 2008; 2000+ Toronto FC fans invaded that town; me, Freek, Austin, Lisa, and Coop)

No matter how poorly they perform, or how vastly they underachieve, I will always love and cherish Toronto FC for the sole reason that it gave me an instant "life". Over the course of a summer I quickly developed my own set of friends, through the U Sector (one of a few different supporters groups for the club). I even met Kris through the group! It was something that came along at the right time for me. It offered me an easy chance for acquaintances that I really didn't have to work for (being a good looking female). We saw each other almost every week, and even bonded on a few trips down south to support our team. It truly has been an integral part of my life, and even though my level of support has fluctuated over the past few years, I always find myself falling back in love with the team throughout the year.

That's really all I feel like saying at the moment. Maybe I'll indulge more later, or maybe I won't. That remains to be seen!

Winter Wardrobe

Since I did a summer wardrobe, I figured I might as well do a winter one! This is typical of what you'd find me wearing since October onwards. Skirt, tights/knee high socks, top, and cardigan. Along with skirts I have also grown my cardigan collection substantially. I am especially fond of that mustard coloured one. I like to call it my "Colonel Mustard Cardigan".

I am a huge fan of the Clue board game. That cardigan makes me want to play Clue.

First!

Yes I know, the picture says summer '09, and I'm posting this during the winter of '10! But I started this whole thing back in the spring of '09, and since I'm changing everything over to a new blog, I thought I'd start at the beginning. Well maybe not the exact beginning, but the beginning of my documentation of this whole change.

What change? Many changes, but mostly wardrobe change. Before last summer I pretty much wore the staple of capri jeans and tank top. That was it, for the most part. A skirt here and there, maybe a dress once or twice a season. In the winter it was jeans and a hoodie. Nothing exciting, nothing girly. But then I discovered the joys of shopping for clothes second hand, and my life kind of changed. I've started dressing like a girl again, and from the period of May 2009 until probably October, I could count the number of times I wore pants/capris on one hand. It was all skirts/dresses, all the time!

I have since incorporated jeans and pants back into my wardrobe (mostly due to the cold weather of a Canadian winter, though it was not as bad a winter as seasons past, hooray global warming) and am starting to wear makeup and collect purses. I have also discovered that I have an affinity for jewelry. I am now a proper lady. Who would have thought?

So to sum things up, in this blog I have decided that I will document my purchases from thrift stores. I'll probably write about other things as well (like my writing, my crafts, my bird, and my summers spent supporting Toronto FC) but I don't want to make too many promises.

I tried to do this last year and failed, so this year I am keeping it simple.

And so, with this bottle of wine I am currently in the midst of consuming, I hereby christen this blog! May it be exactly what I need it to be.