Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Giveaway: Kawaii Kitsch [closed]



Allison from Kawaii Kitsch and A's Fashion Files is offering one lucky girl any item in her shop with a value up to $30! She has so many adorably cute creations but her embellished sunglasses are definitely my favorite! Also, if you can't wait for the giveaway to end, you can take 10% off any purchase with code BRILLIANT!



What you'll win: One item up to $30 in value from Kawaii Kitsch

How to enter: Follow Allison's blog and then leave a comment letting me know which item is your favorite in her etsy shop. And I need some way to contact you (twitter, e-mail, your blog.. whatever floats your boat!) Also, you must be a follower of this blog to enter! This is mandatory, too! (And, please, none of this follow-and-leave as soon as the giveaway is over jazz.. that's super rude!)

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)
1. Tweet this "I just entered a Kawaii Kitsch giveaway on @kategabrielle's blog http://www.scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com" (Only counts if you use that exact tweet.)
2. Like Allison's blog on Facebook
3. Follow Allison on pinterest
4. Pin the giveaway!

This giveaway ends on September 25th at 12:01AM EST. Giveaway has ended.

Winner: comment #33


black velvet



Yesterday was a bit of a doozy! I was working until about 5:30am and then when I finally hit the hay I only managed to sleep for two hours before my stubborn body was like "haha you thought you were going to sleep?! yeah right, time to wake up!!" I went through the rest of the day in a complete haze, determined not to nap so that I could get a full, peaceful night's sleep the next time around.

I ended up working all day long but somehow I still feel like I didn't get anything accomplished. I have e-mails piling up again, deadlines approaching faster than I realize and unfinished projects that really need finishing. Hopefully today I'll be remarkably well rested and ready to tackle that daunting to-do list!

oh, ps! In my sleepy stupor yesterday I prepared a giveaway post, but accidentally saved it as a draft instead of scheduling it to post, so it never went up. I'm posting it this afternoon so keep your eyes peeled! :)


Dress - forever 21 | tights - urban outfitters | Shoes - francesca's

Sunday, September 16, 2012

I miss the 90's.



I miss the 90's. Like, a lot.

I always do, but every once in a while that ache for days gone by seems to overwhelm me to the point where I feel genuinely upset that I can't go back. I'm going through one of those phases right now. Part of it is about being a kid... having a relatively carefree existence and having none of the problems that come with adolescence or adulthood. I look at the face in this photo and think "Oh gosh, young Kate. Enjoy your life now because in 2-3 years you'll have acne and periods and bras and unrequited crushes and terrible, terrible hair."

But it's also THE NINETIES. The decade itself. I am so incredibly happy to have been born just in time to have had a childhood completely devoid of anything related to the internet. Don't get me wrong, I do like the world wide web. I met most of my closest friends online, google searches have saved the day more times than I can count, and I make my living on etsy.

But I miss doing things without feeling that urgent need to share online. I miss waking up and NOT immediately checking my emails. Going a whole day without looking at my iphone or uploading something to instagram, or updating my facebook page. I long for a time in which none of my time was devoted to online sharing.

I miss the simplicity of early 90's technology... MS Paint and The Oregon Trail! And WordArt! I miss VHS tapes! I miss the video stores like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. Going there always felt like such a treat, and the whole place would smell like popcorn. I miss the ads for movies coming soon to home video in 1993.

I miss scrunchies, peace signs, smiley faces, yin-yangs and daisies. POGS!! Remember Pogs?! I miss the mail order ads in magazines like Teen Beat. I always wanted glow in the dark lipstick but never got up the courage to ask my parents to let me buy it.

I miss jean jackets and tye dye. I miss Drew Barrymore with light hair and dark lipstick. I wanted to look like that so badly. I miss the commercials on tv that STILL are more cool and cutting edge than things that try to seem cool and cutting edge today. I miss the macarena.

I even miss school. Not middle school or high school (Dear God NO) but elementary school, where everything I learned still comes in handy to this day, where learning was fun and my teachers were all super friendly (if Mrs. Copeland is somehow reading this, you were my favorite!!) I miss the book fairs (obviously), recess, school trips and lunch. Airheads, pop tarts, dunkaroos, fruit roll ups, gushers and capri sun!

Thank goodness for modern technology, though. Oh, how terrible life would be if I couldn't watch old back to school commercials on youtube or Aaahh! Real Monsters on netflix instant. The internet allows nostalgia to thrive, so for that above all else, I love the world wide web.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Giveaway: $75 Paraders gift certificate! [closed]



I am incredibly excited about this giveaway! Rachael from The Paraders is offering $75 to spend in her shop -- you can spend it on any of the vintage pieces in her shop, or on something from her amazing new vintage reproduction line! Pre-orders for the stunning collection start next week so I suggest you keep an eye out on The Paraders website, whether you win the giveaway or not! ;)



What you'll win: $75 gift certificate to The Paraders

How to enter: Register for The Paraders mailing list and then leave a comment with some way to contact you (twitter, e-mail, your blog.. whatever floats your boat!) Also, you must be a follower of this blog to enter! This is mandatory, too! (And, please, none of this follow-and-leave as soon as the giveaway is over jazz.. that's super rude!)

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)
1. Tweet this "I just entered to win a $75 gift certificate for theparaders.com on @kategabrielle's blog http://www.scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com" (Only counts if you use that exact tweet.)
2. Like The Paraders on Facebook.
3. Follow The Paraders blog

This giveaway ends on September 21st at 12:01AM EST. Giveaway is over.

ps! I'm incredibly honored to be the first Paraders Blogger of the Month! You can check out my interview on the Paraders blog here! :)

Winner: Comment #170