Call for Sponsors + a Promo Code!

Last week I set up Passion Fruit ads on my blog. I have three sizes starting at $6, and also trades available (shoot me an email me if you're interest in trades!) Also, for today only I have a special discount code! Get 20% off any ad with promo code "owlcity"! Valid until I get home the Owl City concert tonight! (I'm guessing it will be around eleven or twelve.)

Buttons go up as soon as I approve them (except the TARDIS size, that one will be queued until March 26 when it opens up again), and run for 30 days. For more sponsorship info + to purchase an ad check out my sponsorship page!

DIY Vintage Inspired Nightstand Tray

Because my room is so tiny and my bed is right up next to the radiator, I don't really have any room for a bedside table. It's not much of an inconvenience, since I can set my glasses, etc. on the radiator, but to keep my room from looking cluttered I decided to make a small tray to keep it all on at night.

My inspiration was the vanity trays that used to be so popular, but I wanted a more modern feel since I want to make sure my room stays updated looking despite all the florals/general vintage feel. I'm really pleased with the result, and the best part is that the whole project cost me less than $10!

Needed:

*frame

spray paint

scrap-booking paper 

I think this project is pretty self-explanatory, but for the sake of argument (and a well formatted post!) I'm going to explain what I did anyway:

1) Take the glass + cardboard out of your frame and spray paint it your desired color. Mine took about two coats, and I painted the front and back since you can see the underside of mine when it's sitting out.

2) While the paint is drying use the glass/piece of cardboard from the back to cut your scrap booking paper the correct size.

3) After the paint is fully dry (I let mine sit a full 24 hours just to be certain), resemble the frame with the scrap-booking paper where the picture would normally be. 

And ta-dah! You've got your very own vintage inspired nightstand tray! Guarenteed to keep all your odds and ends safe at night while you slumber away in dream land. ♥

*(thrift stores are great places to pick up nice frames cheap)

If you try out this project I'd love to see a photo of it! You can email me, shoot me a tweet, or tag me in your photo on Instagram! Happy DIYing!

xo,

Katie

My Story of Manipulative Relationships // Honest to Blog

I don't know how to start this post so I guess I'll just come out and say it: I was caught up in a manipulative/controlling relationship all through high school and even for a while after I graduated. And no, it wasn't a romantic relationship. I know some people think that you can't be in a bad "relationship" if it's not romantic. Let me be the first to inform you that this is not true

I'm the oldest grandchild on both sides of the family, so I've never had any older friends/family to look up to. So when I was a freshman in high school, and I met a girl who was several years older than me, who was talented and popular, and for some reason sought me out... well, I couldn't help but be flattered.

We spent every minute of the day talking and texting - even when I was with other friends or family - and looking back, I'm really embarrassed at how much I let her manipulate me.  I'm embarrassed that all she had to do was say a few words and I would do whatever she wanted. I'm embarrassed that I cut myself off from the rest of my family and friends because "no one else 'got' me." But I just have to keep telling myself that, hey! I was fifteen, full of hormones and emotions and a new Christian to boot.

But then things started to get worse. She blamed me for everything: I left her out, didn't love her enough, was too worldly, too focused on growing up, worried too much, talked too much, didn't help her enough, was a terrible friend, dressed badly, shouldn't like tattoos or colored hair, shouldn't be happy when she was sad, shouldn't be sad when she was happy, should talk to her all day long, answer her messages right away, not spend more time with my other friends than I did with her, be there whenever she needed any little thing and ask for nothing in return. She yelled at me, ignored my problems and demanded my attention.

Then I started to see things differently...

I tried reasoning with her. I tried begging her. I tried explaining to her. I yelled just to make my voice heard. But it made less than no difference. I got apologies but in the end it didn't last more than a couple days. We'd fight and I'd think this would be the end, she'd apologize and we'd try again.

In the end, I had to end it. But the pain didn't stop.

It was - and is - really hard, but the more I'm away from her the more my eyes have been open. Now I want to forgive her and get healthy again. I want to move on, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss her. I miss talking to her, and feeling like I had someone I could depend on no matter what.

Because even though I know it's unhealthy for me to be around her, I still love her so much. She has so much potential and so much good inside her if she could just take responsibility for her actions. 

So that's my story. And for those of you wondering, no, I am not writing this out of anger/revenge/bitterness/passive aggressiveness. I'm writing this out of the hope that maybe, just maybe, not hiding the hurt is the first step to healing. And in the hopes that if anyone reading this is going through a similar experience, they'll realize that they're not alone and no, they're not crazy or bad friends like I thought I was. I'm not an expert, but if anyone out there is going through something similar and just wants someone to listen/give an outside opinion/let them know that they're not alone, don't hesitate to drop me a line. My email is katie(at)beautifully-pure(dot)com. I know how exhausting/frusterating/heartbreaking a situation like this can be, and I'd love to everything I can to help.

God bless and I hope you all are having a great day.
♥

xo,

Katie Burry

When I've Got My Skates On // Daily Outfit

"Some days are horrible - like you trip in the hall and your skirt flies over your head just when the jock you like is walking past. Some days are just 'ok.' Maybe you find a $20 bill, but you get a parking ticket. And some days are just so amazingly awesome and everything with the world is right!" 

~ Lizzie Benne

Reasons why the day I wore this dress was awesome:

• It was the perfect almost-spring-day! I woke up to the sound of birds in the trees, it was unny and not too cold. Spring, please come quickly!
• I drove with the windows down for one of the first times this year
• I just recently bought a pair of socks just like my white thigh highs but in the gray, and I wore them for the first time with this outfit. I love them so much. Seriously so comfortable. I want them in black, too, and I'm even thinking about getting a pair for a giveaway. Does anyone think this is a good idea!?
• I used my new make-up palette, Boudoir Eyes by Too Faced, to try my hand at the smokey eye the girl at Ulta did on me. It wasn't as good as hers, but it didn't suck, either!
• I loved my make-up, and was pleased with my hair/make-up, so I felt great all day!
• I went ice skating for the first time in four years, which was awesome despite all the mothers bringing their little daughters to practice figuring skating which meant me being shown up by a couple of five year olds.
• After searching for over a year I finally bought the perfect purple lipstick - not too purple-y, and not too dark! Thank you, MAC cosmetics!
• Semi caught up with one of my bestest girl friends.
• It was payday so I got to pick up my check + say hello to my co-workers, which - of course - ending up being a discussion on how great Jeffery Campbell shoes are (in the words of my co-worker "he knows how to make shoes!" YEAH GIRL!)
• I realized when I looked at my paycheck stub that I got a pay raise, so I am now $.25 per hour closer to being rich. Yay me!
• I burned so many calories ice skating, that I ate whatever I want when I got home, completely guilt free. (I really need to ice skate more often, y'all!) 

xo, 

Katie Burry

♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: Moon Collection via the Red Dress Shoppe

cardigan: Forever 21
Lita spikes: Lori's Shoes

tights: Forever 21
socks: the Forest Bootery

belt: Windsor

necklace: gift from Emily
sunglasses: ModCloth

bag: Little Black Bag
lipstick: MAC in Rebel
title: Tip of the Iceberg by Owl City

There's a Light Snow // Daily Outfit

Lately my outfit posts have been going up quite a bit after I actually wore them. I just have so many they're getting a bit backlogged! This outfit is actually from a couple Saturday's ago. I wore it to work because Saturdays are "dress up days" and jeans are not allowed. I just love the the floral pattern looks with my new gingham ModCloth cardigan, and somehow I think the pops of bright red keep the whole thing balanced. ♥

The food pictures in this set were taken at one of my favorite cafe/delis in the area. It's a block away from where I work, and has the best salads, bread and some of the most gorgeous looking/delicious pastries I've ever seen! Seriously, it looks like a Pinterest food board in there, most of the time!

Tonight I'm picking up Molly from the train station in Chicago so we can spend three fun days at my house dressing up, taking pictures and doing all the sort of things that childhood best friends do. I'm so looking forward to it! We haven't spend any significant time just the two of us in the past three years. What!?

Do you have any fun weekend plans?

xo,

Katie Burry

♥ ♥ ♥       

Moon Collection dress: Red Dress Shoppe

cardigan: ModCloth

tights: c/o We Love Colors

socks: the Forest Bootery
boots: DSW

belt: thrifted

necklace: Stitch Fix

bag: Little Black Bag

lipstick: Kat Von D Painted Love in Underage Red
title: Dear Vienna by Owl City

My Newly Redecorated Room

One of my nineteen before twenty goals is to get my room fully decorated. Until recently I had no idea what I wanted it to look like, but since I finally had an idea, I wanted to get it done and have a place that I could chill out and relax and be comfortable.

So when I got back from my trip I set to work and I have almost all of it done! I still need a rug and to tough up a few paint jobs, but I'm so happy with it so far! Here are a few pics of it + my room tour video! You can see the rest of the photos here (along with some photos of the different styles I've tried over the years) if you're interested.

And a big thank you to Kaelah Bee for the closet idea! It's been a huge life-saver what with my miniscule closet and all! ♥

xo,

Katie Burry

Friday Brunch // Daily Outfit

A couple weeks ago my family went out to our favorite breakfast restaurant for brunch, and this is what I wore! I wish I would have thought to take some pictures of the restaurant + what I had to eat, because it really is the nicest place ever, but - unfortunately - I did not, so these pictures of my outfit will just have to suffice. *wink*

I've really been loving these thigh high socks lately! I love layering them over tights since it's too cold to go tight-less, yet, and scrunching them down so they're just below my knees. So cute + comfy!

What fashion pieces have you been loving yet?

xo,

Katie Burry

♥ ♥ ♥       

dress: ModCloth

cardigan: Old Navy
boots: DSW

tights: H&M

socks: the Forest Bootery

belt: thrifted

necklace: fleamarket

bag: Little Black Bag

Lately {Minus the music + TV}

1. Heart shaped tea infuser

2. Packing supplies for Lauren and Hannah's packages

3. Went ice skating for the first time in years this past week!

4. One of my favorite stores in the world - Aerie! 

5. My dad bought the four of us girls each a thing of Godiva chocolate. Yummy!

6. My new MAC lipstick!

7. Details from what I wore yesterday (except I ended up not wearing those sun glasses. Lol!)

8. Look who finally watched her hair yesterday! Score!

9. My dad's peanut butter filled, chocolate covered jalapeno pepper.

Since I've mostly just been listening to Owl City on repeat in preparation for seeing them live at the end of the month (eep!!), I won't bore you with that this week; and since I've very bummed about my two favorite TV shows at the moment, I'll wait until next week to fill you in on that. *winks* 

Hope you're having a great Monday so far!

xo, 

Katie Burry

Odds and Ends // Photography

Last post about my vacation, I promise! These are just some photos I took that I wanted to share, but didn't fit in anywhere else. I had so much fun practicing photography in a new environment. I'm definitely falling in love with my camera all over again. ♥

Happy weekend, all!

xo,

Katie Burry