.norah jones::fall.

I want this album when it comes out.
Also, I want that RUG!!

View Norah Jones' new single, Chasing Pirates, here.

.whew! that was close!.

Alright, so far so good. I'm on Day #10 with this NaBloPoMo thing and I'm not about to give in! Today has been "one of those days," you know the kind where nothing goes the way it should. Plans thrown out the window and stress levels increase. But it's all good now. Kat is calm, collected and nackered! Ha! And as much as I'd like to chat a little longer, I'm gonna have to call it a day! Hope everyone is doing oh-so-groovy out there!

.thanks, mom.

When I think about all the reasons why I love photography, I think about those childhood memories of my Mom taking constant pictures of my younger sister and I, making us pose in front of some landmark before allowing us to roam. Ha! At the time, especially if we weren't in the mood, it was hard to appreciate what she was doing. "Oh crap, Mom's bringing out the camera again! Hide!" But after the film was developed, we would all huddle on the couch, passing photos back and forth to each other, laughing our butts off as we remember the fun we had that day. Those pictures, especially of happier times spent with our friends and family, are worth more to me than all the riches in the world. We wouldn't have had any of them had it not been for my Mom and that camera of hers.

Lastnight, I stopped by her place after taking some photos of my very pregnant best friend and her husband. I wanted to show my Mom the pictures I took of my daughter and the mess that she made of the living room floor. During this excursion to my blog and flickr site, my Mom became enamored with my photos, going through each and every page. "It's like flipping through a huge album. Wow, YOU took these? I'm impressed." I couldn't help but feel like that little girl who just came home from school with an art project she just finished. There was a feeling of pride mixed with humility. My mother approved, and even though I didn't ask for it, I was grateful. So Mom, if you're reading this, thank you.

.not quite the milky way.

It's so easy as parents to get bent out of shape when our little ones get themselves caught up in a round of mischief. Say like when your toddler decides to sprinkle the entire living room floor with a new bottle of baby powder and then proceeds to dance in it while you are in the kitchen washing dishes. Or, dare I say, on Facebook? Did I mention that you just swept and cleaned the hardwood floors? After a brief moment summed up by the words "what-the-hell?!" and a Little Miss Thing being put into time-out, you walk into the living room, broom and dust pan in hand, and realize just how interesting this mess of lavender scented talcum powder looks on your floor. The tiny, random splotches suddenly become faraway galaxies, and miniature footprints become a sign of alien existence. Super Nanny would have probably lectured me for what I did next, but I didn't care. I pulled the little one out of time out, and for just a few minutes, let her dance amongst the stars. . . that is. . . before they were swept away. . . as *stardust*.

.help-portrait.

Vision. (n) the act or power of seeing.

Compassion. (n) sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

When these two come together, something beautiful happens. Barriers are torn down. Hope is strengthened. Connections are formed. Lives are changed.

On December 12th, hundreds of people across the globe will be taking part in a photographic experience known as Help-Portrait. A vision inspired by Nashville based photographer, Jeremy Cowart, photographers off all levels, make-up artists, and just folks that want to lend a helping hand will be working together to create a portrait of someone who may not otherwise be able to afford one. The soul of this project is not just about pictures. It's about connection. Community. It's about bringing to light the beauty of people and helping others to see that beauty. Both inside and out.

.holidays are approaching!.

I picked up a couple of my favorite import lifestyle magazines yesterday, Marie Claire Idées and Country Living UK. Of course, I ate up all the wonderful images! Now it was while I was browsing through these fabulous, glossy pages that I came upon a spread for the Country Living Christmas Fair in London when it truly dawned on me. HOLY CRAP! Christmas is just around the corner!! Is it just me or did we like miss a couple of months somewhere during the year? Is it the fact daylight savings took place in November instead of October that has totally thrown my seasonal holiday clock off?! Or perhaps is it the fact I no longer work in the retail craft world where Christmas rolls in off a 51 foot trailer in the middle of May? Makes you wonder. I guess it's time to get excited and get crackin' on some Holiday gifts. Hmm. . . got any ideas? I like this gift idea I found on Beryl's blog. She's also running a contest on this item, so you'll need to check that out!

This will definitely be a much more sentimental Holiday season for me and my family. Money is tight, as I'm sure many of you can relate, so there will be much more thought going into the gifts this year. But isn't that how it should be anyway? How about you? What kinds of neat Christmas gift ideas do you have?

.music::anna ternheim.

I am loving, LOVING the latest album by Swedish musician, Anna Ternheim. The above clip features the acoustic version of one of my favorite tracks on Leaving on a Mayday. The album was originally released in Europe at the end of 2008, and finally reached the States last August. For those of you who may not have heard of Anna, I would say she is "Lisa Hannigan meets Dido." Beautiful, wispy vocals and dramatic melodies. Totally diggin' it! ;o)