Under-appreciated Things in Life

Hello friends.

Contrary to popular belief, I did not fall off the edge of the world and into washed-up blogger oblivion. Hooray! For the past month or so, I have been so busy carpe-ing diems, blogging became a bit of an afterthought, and I took an unannounced hiatus of sorts. With that said, I'm back with a vengeance, bursting with words to send into the sky for all to see.

After all, words are just one category of things I've found that receive much less appreciation than is truly deserved.

Here are some others.


1. Old family photos
2. Curry
3. Sunglasses

4. Well-worded quotes
5. Strong coffee
6. The perfect pancake
7. Markets
8. Check marks
9. Cool, Indian-summer nights
10. Perfectly executed victory dances  
11. Getting so lost in something that time, usually grasped tightly, escapes
12. Lists, especially the bucket variety
13. Climbing trees
14. Crisp apples
15. Earning your bedtime
16. Making up raps
17.The perfect pair of shoes
18. Espresso
19. Old keys
20. Chewy popcorn
21. The perfectly twisted ice-cream cone
22. "7's"
23. Shiny pennies
24. Plot twists
25. Filing cabinets
26. The first sentence of a book
27. The last sentence of a book
28. Colorful movies
29. Unexpected metaphors
30. Used bookstores
31. Someone's "to-do" list left on the sidewalk
32. Remembering your dreams
33. Deja vu
34. Ice-cream that slightly melts as you scoop it

35. Cacti 

36. Black and white photos

37. Finding perfect food combinations

38. Catching fish

39. Cinnamon

40. Mail  

Happy Friday! 

Favorite Things Friday: The Best of Thanksgiving Break

I feel a typical list of favorite Thanksgiving things would include photos of extravagant dinner tables, relatives snoozing in front of the football game, and smiling yet freezing friends standing in line at the mall at 3 am.

But not this list! This "Favorite Things Friday" is dedicated to some of the best and most random moments that occurred on my Thanksgiving Break back in Ohio.

1. SANTAAAA! I know him! Just kidding, that's my sister. I have always told her to quit using my phone to take beauty shots of herself that I up deleting later anyway, so I'm finally getting a little payback. However, Marissa and I had a blast the night before Thanksgiving watching funny YouTube videos of Glozell and Bad Lip Reading for 2 hours straight.

2. Bethany. My favorite evening I spent with this little buddy consisted of playing One Direction trivia before baking cookies and ballroom dancing to Christmas music in the kitchen. The kid is talented in all three areas.

3. Dewey's Pizza. It is tradition in the Burkhardt household to dine at Dewey's in Dayton on the night of my homecoming. "Going hard" is an understatement when it comes to us five consuming Dewey's, as we (nearly) devoured 1 large cheese pizza, 1 small buffalo chicken pizza, and 1 small veggie pizza. We had to practice for Thanksgiving dinner somehow!

4. Tree Decorating Boot Camp. On the day after Thanksgiving every year, the Christmas tree rises from the depths of the basement, and every year we smile and reminisce as we pull out ornaments from years past. THIS year, however, my sisters needed a little help in proper ornament hanging technique. I will not disclose the number of ornaments hung backwards, or ugly ornaments placed front and center, or fights over whose "special ornaments" would be placed where. It was hilarious.

5. Target shopping. And Justin Bieber of course. I visited Target three times over break; once actually on Black Friday.....at noon. :)

6. Post-Turkey Just Dance. Forget the food coma following copious amounts of stuffing and pie, the Burkhardt Babes got down playing our favorite Wii game of all time, under the usernames of Moonhead, Coconut Man, and Pea. Just Dance is something all three of us agree on despite our age differences, and I always look forward to laughing and dancing with the two of them to our favorite songs.

Happy Friday!

Favorite Things Friday

Today's edition of Favorite Things Friday is brought to you by....

ALL THE ASIAN BABIES!

Try to NOT smile while looking at the adorable faces pictured above, I dare you.

Welcome to a glimpse into my future family. 

(And my current one. The bottom left picture is of my dad and my little sister, 13 years ago!)

快樂星期五！

Favorite Things Friday Special Edition

Well, now that Halloween is over....

Welcome to Kate's Christmas List!

Christmas should be named the fifth and best season of the year. Therefore, why not start celebrating early to stretch it out as long as possible?! 

1. Mugs. As a crucial part of the coffee drinking experience, the value of a cute mug is way underrated. It is my goal to accumulate as many different kinds of coffee mugs in my lifetime as possible!

2. My own personal Starbucks. So I can get lattes all day every day. Just kidding. But a Starbucks gift card in a stocking would put a jolly smile on my face.

3. K-Cups. Previously featured in this post, K-Cups are quite magical in my sight. By now, my coffee addiction should be several shades of obvious. I love K-Cups in any and every flavor!

4. A filing cabinet. Call me crazy, but my tendency to collect things finds filing cabinets appealing. Such a gift would allow me to categorize and store the things that I have accumulated over my life that I can't bear to throw out (old notebooks, cards from friends, pictures, etc).

5. Anything from Target. 

6. All the cute cold weather gear. Knit hats, scarves, and mittens/gloves have been dancing in my head thinking of walking to class in the cold next semester. Aside from keeping me warm, I love the stylish aspect of fun outerwear! 

Happy Friday! 

Favorite Things Thursday

1. K-Cups. These little plastic compartments are the stuff of fairytales. Pop one into a Keurig coffee maker, press the button, and POOF! Coffee appears! Searching for new flavors is a hobby of mine, and I now have quite the collection. 

2. My favorite meal. Bacon, scrambled eggs, and pancakes from The Original Pancake house is the best breakfast. I whole heartedly believe breakfast is the most delicious meal of the day.

3. Pretty Little Liars. More like an obsession than merely a "favorite thing," PLL is the only TV show that I have started that continues to hold my attention. Watching the intricate and suspenseful events unfold with the lights off keeps my heart pounding through every episode. The saga continues January 8, 2013, and I may or may not be counting down.

4. Capitola Beach, CA. The tiny beach bum town captured my heart this summer. The deep blue Pacific dotted with surfers contrasted with a clear California sky is an image forever burned into my memory.

5. Starbucks + Target. I'm all about discovering perfect combos, and I think I may have found the ultimate. Sipping my favorite drink shopping in my favorite store made my coffee loving, retail craving heart so happy last weekend. 

Happy Thursday!

Favorite Things Thursday

1. Mugs. Because I love coffee, obviously I love coffee mugs. For my birthday, I would love to be given several. My birthday is a mere 67 days away.

2. Sweet Potato Fries. Now at Culver's for a limited time! I could live on these crispy sticks of deliciousness. I wonder if my backyard would support a sweet potato crop...

3. Jon McLaughlin's green tea. The man himself was sipping on that very cup during his concert last Saturday night, and of course I had to retrieve it for him after the show! Meeting him with his half full cup of green tea in my hand did make for sufficient awkwardness, but hey, at least I offered to give it back before he signed it!

4.Yankee Candle's Pumpkin Buttercream. If I could wear the scent of those candles as a perfume, I would. Every day. All year.

5. 101's new stress reliever. And not a moment too soon. It's THAT point in the semester, ladies and gentlemen. Holding fast to my favorite verse in Philippians this week.

Happy Thursday! 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-6

Favorite Things Thursday

1. ...and that's when I discovered the Loch Ness Monster. She was hiding at the Newport Aquarium (one of my favorite places) all along! I had the privilege of spending my exit from teenagerdom there amongst the fishes last December 17th.                                  

2.  The Baby Burks. Bethany and Marissa (Fidge and Mars for short) are my best girls. They'll be standing next to me when I marry...

3. My husband. Tim Tebow.

4. Chicken Curry and Sag-Paneer. This delicious Indian meal tastes much better than it looks, promise. My dad and I always get lunch at the coolest Indian restaurant when I'm home from school. No one else in my family is a fan. Imagine that.

5. Kate Spade. Thankfully, my hometown has a Kate Spade outlet store, which used to feature the mural pictured above. I love browsing their website, pretending I can afford the adorable products. I also plan to be their top PR girl someday.

Happy Thursday!

Favorite Things Thursday

1. My nails. Freshly painted with no major mishaps! They remind me of a starry night sky, or, more specifically, the California starry night sky. California stars>. No question.

2. Brand new Fossil wallet. I think the retail fairy sprinkled vintage fairy dust on my face the day I was born, because every time I walk into a Fossil store, it's like I'm under a spell. The kind of spell that makes me want everything. Therefore, I'm obsessed with my new Fossil wallet!

3. Pumpkin seeds + candy corn. The ultimate autumnal snack combo. Salty and sweet in conjunction never fails.

4. "The Purple Pill" pen. Because I have frequent heartburn. Just kidding. My fat purple pen reminds me of my hard-working dad who has always provided, as well as God's faithfulness to my family. This time last year was quite different compared to where we are now.

5. Cheryl. The woman who put Santa Claus out of a job. My mom sends the best packages! Number 2 on this list arrived in a beautiful brown box along with a new skirt and a pack of spearmint gum on Wednesday. She takes such good care of me.

Happy Thursday!

Favorite Things Thursday

It's that time of the week, my friends!

1. The Baby Burks. 

If you asked me to name two people I would do anything for, "Marissa and Bethany" would meet the question with no hesitation. I adore my little sisters. I spent last weekend playing Mancala, jumping on the trampoline, watching soccer, and laughing with my best girls. Twas grand.

2. My Fall playlist.

Disregard the name; it was the first phrase to pop into my head upon its creation. This playlist is an eclectic mix of musical randomness. "On My Mind" by Cody Simpson is my favorite today (don't judge it till you listen to it)!

3. Mudslide Flavored K Cups.

And they were only $9.99! I go to bed excited to wake up to a cup of this delightful coffee. Having three roommates with Keurigs makes my life. 

4. Casa Brava.

Located five minutes from campus on the bypass, Casa Brava is Mexican perfection. After downing 12 baskets of chips and salsa, order Arroz Con Pollo (chicken with queso and rice) and prepare for your mind to be blown. Don't forget to snag a few green mints on the way out!

5. Zayn.

The most attractive member of One Direction now lives in my window! You're welcome to everyone who needs a little eye candy on their way to class. 

Happy Thursday!

Favorite Things Thursday

I love so many things!

1. Coffee with Friends. 

Kind of like "Words with Friends" but way more fun and delicious. I'm so happy to have roommates

who share my addiction to caffeine! 

2. My inspirational pencil case. 

I love all these words! 

3. Octopuses.

The octopi and I have a complicated relationship. In reality, they scare me, but I love them at the same time. Kind of like how horror movies are scary but people still watch them. However, the octopus pictured above I found more cute than terrifying. 

4. My Journal.

The pages of this journal are filled with letters to my Father. My relationship with Him has taken a deep and exciting turn since the school year has started, and my journal is the primary means of communication with Him. 

Favorite Things Thursday

Welcome to Kate's current obsessions of the week!

1. Paint Chips

I can't get enough of paint chips. I write notes on them, have them Modge Podged to folders and notebooks, and carry them around with me just in case something needs a pop of color.  Above is a photo of the bulletin board on my desk, covered in paint samples with favorite Bible verses!

2. My roommates

I love these girls to death! Life with Bre, Joelle, Addi, Lauren, Sidney, plus Elese and Nicole (not pictured) is never boring. I have been so blessed to have them as friends. 

3. My favorite breakfast

Toast one slice of 9 grain wheat bread until crunchy. Spread on one knife-full of peanut butter evenly. Top with sliced banana and serve with a side of fruit. DEE-licious. 

4. Henry

Henry and I's friendship began when I won him in my first Creative Writing class (which I absolutely adore). I was so stoked. Who wouldn't want to win a rubber fish on their first day of class as a junior in college?!

5. Red Velvet cookie + McConn

Best enjoyed anytime of the day or night. 

Happy Thursday!