Q&A with Kate Lately!

Kate Lately is a fashion blog produced by Katherine Lutes a St. Thomas grad. She graduated last year and has been blogging for quite some time. She talked about her blog and the things she loves, like fashion and writing.

By Nathalie Sturgeon

Q: What is your blog about?

A: My blog started out as purely fashion based, but has expanded into a fashion and lifestyle blog. It is my outlet to share with the world things I love, products I've enjoyed using, outfits I just can't wait to share and anything else that I feel inspired to write about. It's my little space on the Internet.

Q: How did you get into fashion?

A: Fashion has always been a part of my life. I grew up with two older sisters who loved fashion and watching them inspired me every day. Once I was old enough to use the Internet, I was constantly looking at celebrities on the best dressed list and watching shows such as "What Not to Wear" or "Project Runway". I don't remember not having fashion in my life and always knew I wanted it to be a part of my future.

Q: How did you get into blogging?

A: Along with fashion, I've always loved to write. There are always so many ideas and words running through my mind. When I entered university, I started to read other fashion blogs and began to research how they were created. While I had always thought about having my own blog, I never thought I could do it. My mom was (and always has been) my biggest fan. She was the one who encouraged me to start my own blog, even if she was my only reader! When it came time for me to decide to expand into YouTube...it was her once again encouraging me to take the leap.

Q: What kind of things inspire you to write?

A: I get inspiration from so many places. I'm constantly being inspired by people around me, whether in real life or via the internet. I love to see people using "trends" and mixing them with their own personal style. I'm also inspired by travelling and exploring the world around me. My family and friends are always inspiring me as well. Whether I snap a photo of my nephew running through a park or hear a beautiful piece of inspiration spoken by my best friend, it can inspire me to want to share it with the world. I truly believe inspiration should be a part of every day life.

Q: Who, if anyone has inspired your fashion sense, and why?

A: I'm not sure one person has inspired my fashion sense, but I believe my fashion is pieces of many people around me infused with my own personality. The ladies in my family have always been so fashionable and beautiful, I take a lot of my inspiration from them. We, as Christian women, find it an exciting challenge to be fashion forward, yet modest so that we do not conform to the sensual ideals of today's world. 

When it comes to celebrity inspiration, I have a few favourites that I often find myself taking ideas from. These ladies include Victoria Beckham, Blake Lively, Princess Kate and Perrie Edwards. My favourite brands also provide me inspiration, brands such as Kate Spade, Alice & Olivia and Topshop.

Q: You have a background in communications, how has that helped you write your blog?

A: My background in communications did not help in writing my blog, in fact it was the other way around. Writing my blog helped me to realize that communications would be a great path for me. Social media is the main connection between my blog and my degree. Learning more about etiquette on social media and how to network really helped to take my blog to the next step. I just so enjoy writing on my blog and knew that if I could spend my life doing something I loved this much, I would always be happy.

Q: What kind of things do you hope to write about in the future?

A: I hope my blog grows with me. I hope I continue to write about fashion and lifestyle, maybe even expanding into weddings, relationships and children when the time comes. I believe my blog is a reflection of who I am as a person and so it should grow as I grow. Although, I hope to never lose my passion for all things clothes, makeup and shoes!

Q: Tell me about a typical outfit you might wear/write about on your blog?

A: A typical outfit on my blog...that's a hard one. I tend to wobble back and forth between more dressy, sophisticated outfits or trendy, comfortable outfits. I think one of my most "typical" and favourite posts was a collab done with my friend, Maddie, on CassidyLou.com. We both styled jean jackets and I paired my jacket with a tulle dress from Forever 21 and my old prom shoes! I love re-using old clothing or accessories to give them new life. It was really cool to see how I'd gone from wearing those sandals with my prom dress, to wearing them with denim and tulle for an everyday outfit. I'm not sure I have a "typical" outfit, but every outfit I post is based on what I love to wear, what I think is beautiful and I can assure you I dress for no one other than myself. I also try to show other people that you don't have to be a model or a stick figure to look beautiful. I'm a curvy girl and I can still be fashion forward. It's an important message and one I'm proud to share.

Q: If you could give anyone advice about fashion, what would it be?

A: Advice on fashion...well there's a lot I've heard over the years. While I think it's important to stay true to yourself, I believe that is more of a piece of life advice than fashion advice. My favourite piece of advice is to try something new. When I started my blog, I was very safe with my fashion choices. Since then, I have stepped outside the box and tried trends I never thought I'd be able to pull off. Of course, some failed, but some are now my favourite outfits! Of course, when trying new trends, never spend a lot of money on the brand names. Save your expensive purchases for timeless pieces that will last you years. Hit up thrift stores or department stores to experiment with new trends. Once you figure out what you love, then you can go back and purchase better quality items. It's about balance, budgeting and a lot of fun!

Turning 22~

So, today, I'm 21. Tomorrow I will be 22.

That's right, tomorrow is my birthday. January 21st, 1994 at around 9:40p.m. in the middle of a winter storm was when I was born.

And over this past year a lot of things have certainly changed.

I've learned a lot of things about myself.

I can be mean, I can be horribly mean. To myself and to other people. Which is something I really feel like I need to work on. I need to be more sensitive to other people and be more trustworthy of people and the things they do.
I recently read a journal article by one of my professors. About people who have low agreeableness. People who have low agreeableness are less trustworthy and more suspicious. And feel like sometimes that might be me. And slowly, I feel with a different lifestyle I can be more kind, more trustworthy, and forgiving of those who hurt me in the past.

I have learned I can handle the hard stuff as well as the easy stuff. Over the past year I have acquired two different jobs -- did five classes and now I'm in a seminar. And though life can get messy, the messiness can be the good part.

I have learned I'm great at handling multiple things. But I'm able to do things I didn't think I could do. But that is best part about growing up. You learn about all the things you're capable of.

I've experienced new things.
Hiking
Camping (yes, I've only ever camped once in my life, and it was this past summer).
I'm actually going to try and ski soon. Or snow board, who knows!

I went travelling for the first time in my life. 

Hiking a shoreline in another province

 A sunset 

Hiking a trail at a National Park 

Experiencing new things can be fun, even it requires stepping outside of your comfort zone. 

I've also been challenging myself to be better at taking care of myself. Diabetes is a tricky disease. And I really think that learning how to manage it will help better my life. 

Turning 22 isn't a big deal, I'm still young. Things will continue to change.
And I'm starting to get ready for that. Who knows what 22 might bring? 

My first week back to school

It's back to the grind in 2016, despite a great holiday season, reality always comes to find us.
I'm heading back to work and school, both full-time. I'm attending a university for journalism.
Journalism, a profession based in the question and answer of common people- takes up a lot of my "free" time.
Free is a word open for interpretation.

School and work mean heavy scheduling. Deadlines, due dates, and working schedule, even heavier scheduling. Time management has become my biggest friend over the years I've spent in school.

Time management and making a dollar stretch further then it should. Good life skills to acquire when venturing out on your own.

I've attending 3 out of 4 classes (I cut one because of my intense schedule last semester, lesson learned). But since 3 of them are a continuation from last semester, it shouldn't be too painful.

A seminar has been added to my line-up. Seminar that is required for me to graduate with a major in psychology. Unfortunately, I have to do a victory lap, in order to finish my other two majors but such is life.

I'm prepared to work my ass off this semester.

So, here goes.

Here's a picture of my cat in a box.

A Look At Some Holiday Fun

Winter break is over, unfortunately. And it's back to school and work tomorrow, but what a break I had.
I spent Christmas with my family back home. I got wonderful gifts, and stuffed full with turkey. Overall, three turkey dinners this holiday season. Enough turkey for me for awhile. It's a heavy load and a big meal and it always makes me so tired.

Having turkey and big meals can reek havoc on my diabetes. Especially with dessert, because who doesn't love dessert?

I spent about two weeks with my parents, and grandparents.
I got a coffee maker- with Keriug abilities. It can brew both a pot of coffee and individual cups of coffee. Yay, because coffee is like my blood line.
I'm very excited to buy Cake Boss coffee, its some of the best coffee I've ever had.
I got a tape recorder for school. I do a lot of interviews in journalism. As if you did not know that. So having a tape recorder will be super helpful when writing different pieces.

We spent most of our days relaxing at home in front our tree. Which my Mom did a beautiful job decorating.

It was a lovely Christmas. I got some socks, which is a huge thing as an adult struggling to keep socks. I got some nice clothes and pyjamas, it was lovely.

On New Years Eve, I decided I wanted to go see my significant other. And thus began another journey, the journey of travelling somewhere by myself. And yes, I'm 21 years old and I have never travelled anywhere by myself.

Instead of spending a bunch of hours driving back and forth and spending money on gas. I bought a bus ticket. And on the 31st, I boarded a bus to Nova Scotia. And it was 7 hour and 20 minute ride. With over 7 stops.
I dreaded the idea. Perhaps missing my transfers or getting on the wrong bus in the first place. But, I boarded at 11:00 and began my journey.
Interestingly enough, the ride from my home city to the next I met a woman who had been on the bus for nearing 30 hours. She was going from Toronto to PEI, that's a long journey with a lot of stops. We didn't talk a lot but she was experienced bus rider and told me that I had nothing to worry about, we'd be boarding the bus together. And she did. I hope she made it there safely.
I sat with another women on the way to Amherst, Nova Scotia. She also lives in my home city. A vibrant women. She allowed me the courtesy of the window seat. Thank you so much, surprisingly, window seats are much more comfortable for travelling long distances. But, I will tell you, my butt was numb.
She was heading to see family for the New Year. And we joked and laugh the whole way to her transfer. We talked about life, my health issues, her life, her parents and grandparents. It made the bus ride seem to go so much faster. I was very happy after the four-ish hours I had spent travelling.

Yes, that's me, on a bus, a very large bus. Being happy about travelling.

It was a slow ride to Halifax though, no one to talk to and I was getting sleepy. I would suggest bus riding as a solution to insomnia. Because it made me sleep very well very quickly. Lullaby bus.
I arrived at my destination at about 6:20, and there was the love of my life waiting for me.
We went to his families to celebrate the New Year, but not before we exchanged gifts. He broke our fifty dollar limit rule, but hey, it was one of the nicest gifts I've ever gotten.

I opened the box to see a Michael Kors watch. And I got him a inscribed whiskey glass. A little lack luster on my part, haha.

It's beautiful and I will wear every day. Except when I'm at work, but my work is gross.
We spent the next following nights enjoying the company of family and of course we had a date night. He took me to an all you can eat sushi place. It was delicious.

I really recommend trying sushi if you already haven't. Do it!

Overall, I had a great holiday filled with lots of great company, great food, and a good time. And that's what matters. I expect this next year to be a lot more fun as I turn forward to a different chapter of my life. A lot of changes are coming and they are scary but like usual we move forward despite adversity.

Good luck readers in your adventures, and I wish you well in the New Year.
Happy 2016!

I'm here

Blogging hasn't actually been my thing lately. For the past year or so I've gone off the blogging grid.

For a number of reasons. School, mainly. Work, too. I've since joined the fast food life and it's treating me, well... like a fast food job.

So many things have happened in the months I've been away from my blog. I will be updating journalism pieces I've written, as well as much more.

I've experience many new things, and I've had to over come some challenges. But, hey, that's life.

Meet Meredith, my newest addition:

She's quite the little monster. But I love her nonetheless, we're hoping to make more additions to our fur family in the future. She's energetic and she likes carpets. Licks herself often, and runs into doors. Deficits yet to be determined. 

I've actually travelled. Yes, shocking, I know. Not far, not as far as some but I've been to places I thought I would never go. 

This summer was a summer to rival all summers. I went to PEI and Nova Scotia. And they were both experiences that have given me a tremendous insight into the things I enjoy doing. 

I spent the weekend in my first hotel stay in P.E.I. and I spent several weekends in Nova Scotia. As my significant others parents live there.
I also went on hiking adventures. Something I have never done before. It's exciting. It's challenging, because I do not have the "shape" I require to do long hikes. Shame on me.
But I did a couple of different trails this summer and a national park where I'm from.

This was a hike in Moosehorn and Laverty Falls. A long hike. 8km, from start to finish. But we got some amazing views.

Photo credit for the second one goes to my significant other. He takes amazing pictures. The scenery is amazing.

I should note that there is someone new in my life and he is amazing! Couldn't have asked for a better person in my life. He makes me very happy, but he doesn't like social media so much. So I'm going to respect his wishes regarding that.

School is going well (there will be journalism posts to follow), but yes, it takes a lot of work to be a journalism student. A lot of time an effort goes into putting together journalism video. A lot of work goes into putting together radio and print.
I've got one more year to my degree and their are a lot of changes coming in the future.

I don't like change. At all. But, here's to the future and all it holds.

10 reasons why Olivia Benson should be every girls role model

If you're not watching Law and Order: SVU you should make the point to do so!

The lead role of Sgt. Olivia Benson is played by Mariska Hargitay. SVU has been on the air for sixteen years and just announced a seventeenth season. I have watched Hargitay since season one, and though the content of this show may be harsh at times, it’s definitely real.

Olivia Benson is totally a strong female character that every girl should look up to. Let's just say, there's a reason Taylor Swift named her cat after her!

1. She is kind to everyone

One of the things I can say about Olivia is she's kind. I’ve seen her even be kind the people she is meant to put away. It takes a special type of person to be kind to everyone despite his or her faults.

2. She helps the victims

A lot of our culture is centered on blaming someone. Olivia pushes the boundaries, and fights each episode for the rights of the women and men she meets. We are always looking for reasons why things happen, but Olivia does a great job of putting aside the unnecessary and focusing on what's important - the victims.

Her victims are the most important people. She is a natural listener. And in a world of people with opinions, and some always having something to say. It's a great quality to have.

3. She doesn’t take crap from anyone 

One of Olivia’s most prominent characteristics is her attitude. She is a woman in a male-dominated field - she broke the gender bias! She doesn’t take the bullsh*t that the other characters throw at her. Instead, she shows them she is just as strong and establishes herself as a presence. Every girl should be confident in that way.

4. She is proud of who see is, naturally

Even when she's covered in blood, she manages to be flawless! Yes, I realize how awful that sounds but the statement cannot help but be true. Around here, we're used seeing cops in complete uniforms. That's not the case, at least not in most Law and Order shows. She pulls off "Sergeant" extremely well. She doesn't feel the need to conform to what society might think is pretty. She is just one cop trying to save the world.

5. She is loyal

Loyalty is a hard thing to come by these days. It’s a rare quality and those who posess it are special. She was a partner to Detective Stabler until he retired from the SVU squad. She stood by him, regardless of his sometimes erratic behaviour. Some fans even speculate she loved him. But, who wouldn’t? Have you seen Detective Stabler?

6. She's amazing with children [Spoiler Alert!]

Olivia doesn't just deal with adult victims, but children as well. Despite all the stress in her job, one thing you can tell about Olivia is that she loves kids. She puts aside her own childhood issues and aims to help those little kids. Recently, Olivia met a little orphan boy named Noah. Now, he's her own son!

7. She's dedicated

Olivia Benson is one dedicated person. She will do anything to help someone, even if that means putting herself in danger. And sometimes, that isn’t always a good thing (I'm not recommending you do that). But it does show how far she is willing to go to help her victims. There are several episodes where Olivia is ordered to go home and rest by her commanding officer. Why? Because she is freaking dedicated!

8. We aren’t invincible, and neither is she

Olivia has been through some tough stuff on SVU. She is a child of rape. Her mother was an alcoholic, and she has been victimized more then once on the show. Still, she manages to work through her troubles. She has showed that we are all affected. We can all feel sad and helpless at times. But, we must fight back. One of the most classic examples is her fear after being held captive for four days, of returning to her squad room and being treated differently. We all feel that way sometimes. Fear of being seen a certain way, right?

9. Mariska has been married to Peter Hermann for 11 years!

Though Olivia has been unable to capture this sort of lasting love, the actress herself has it down to perfection. These days having a lasting relationship in the celebrity spotlight is hard. Mariska makes the best of that by staying true to herself, her husband and her three children. She is a working woman who manages to keep her home life stable, and her fans impressed. What makes this even more awesome is that Peter Hermann and Mariska Hargitay met on the set of SVU!

10. Mariska's Joyful Heart Foundation

Inspired by the work she does on SVU, Mariska has an foundation called The Joyful Heart Foundation. The mission of this foundation is to educate, heal and support sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse victims. What a woman!

So, to recap: kindness, strength, selflessness, and love. This is why Olivia Benson - and Mariska Hargitay - should be every girl’s role model!

Law & Order: SVU © NBCUniversal

Off-Campus Survival Rules

If you live off-campus, chanced are when you leave your house in the morning you literally have to bring your entire life with you! In the morning, you pack everything necessary as if you are moving out of your house and you head to school (usually for the entire day).

So why not make it easier on yourself? Here's a list of tips to help you deal with the complexity and inconveniences of living away from campus.

1. Prioritize

We tend to overpack - literally. We overpack just in case. After all, you never know when an emergency might happen. So at night before bed, make a list of things you really need. You need your books, your lunch, computer (only if necessary), writing utensils and extra snacks, your bus pass, and your wallet. That covers your basics and leaves no extra stuff to add to the weight you have to carry.

An extra tip: if you are not expressly told to bring your textbook, don't bring it. They are massive and just not necessary!

2. Separate into different bags

Personally, I have two bags I carry to school. One is an over-the-shoulder, and the other is my book bag. This also helps distribute the weight. I use the over-the-shoulder for my computer, my lunch, and my water bottle, plus any small items I need like hand sanitizer, hand cream, and my wallet. I use my backpack solely for school books. This allows you to separate you weight and makes things much easier to carry!

3. Take the bus 

Yes, that’s right. Take the bus. I live a ten minute walk away from campus, but some days you just need to take the bus. But, for those of you who cannot or do not have the option to walk, take the bus. You pay for a bus pass, so use it like your life depends on it! Even though the bus schedule is hard to read and understand, take the time sit down and know the times and where you're headed.

4. Always take the earlier bus 

Speaking of buses! This will save you from the embarrassing walk into class late. Say you have class at 5:00 PM and you can take the 10N Carlisle to campus; catch the bus at 4:00 PM.  The bus will get to campus at 4:35 PM, so you have extra time to get yourself organized and prepared. I've made the mistake of catching the later bus many times - just avoid this situation as best as possible (and say good-bye to sleeping in).

5. Dress warmly

Yes, the bus is convenient, warm and fast. But sometimes it’s late. This time of year, you may find yourself standing out in the cold for a little longer then you expect. Always have good waterproof boots. I recommend wool-lined boots that can withstand -32°C weather. You can find boots like these at SoftMoc.

You'll also need a good jacket that can withstand the strong wind and the freezing temperatures. You will want a jacket that is extra-long and covers your back. Book bags tend to make your coats ride up, leaving your back exposed. You can find these at relatively good price at Walmart and will last you a couple of years. Of course, a scarf, hat, and mitts are necessary too. Do your best to avoid having your face over-exposed. Sometimes wrapping your face with an extra scarf can prevent that ice-cold cheek pain.

6. Pack a well-balanced meal

For this tip, I’ll just give you a recipe I would make to take with me for a long day on campus. This meal gives you protein and vitamins so you can deal with a long day on campus:

• 1 cup of white rice (cooked)
• 1 boneless/skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup of frozen vegetables
• 1 ½ tbsp. of teriyaki sauce (or sauce of your choice)

Directions:

Cook the chicken and rice separately. Cook veggies in the microwave and combine with the chicken once it’s cooked. Add rice and sauce.

Some snack suggestions: an apple (with some peanut butter for extra protein), two granola bars (one for now, one for later), a dessert (perhaps a cookie), and a refillable water bottle. Finally, make sure you carry some cash on you in case you need a little something extra!

How to treat a girl on her birthday

Recently, it was my 21st birthday. So I comprised a list of things to do on a girls birthday.

Birthdays are many people’s favourite time of year. I mean, you get a whole day to celebrate your life up until this point. For me, and I am sure many others, it's hit and miss. There are things you want to happen and other things you just do not.

1. Do not remind the woman of her age

Yes, we know how old we are. We have been counting and stressing over crow's feet since we learned what they were. So please, don’t yell across the table at the party and say, “Oh my god, I can’t believe you're 21,” because frankly, neither can we.

2. We want cake 

Don’t assume because we have some food regiments we like to follow, does not mean we don’t have an appetite. We LOVE cake (and cupcakes and anything else that's sweet). Women are just as moved by cake as flowers (or at least I am). Cake is the way to my soul, especially on my birthday.

3. Bring presents, or don’t

We love to receive gifts, but what we appreciate more is your company. We love to be surrounded by friends and we love to hear a funny story about how crazy we are when we're drunk.

4. Please don’t use the “I was going to buy you a present but…” (directly related to 3)

We are college students. We're on budgets. We're poor. Don’t give excuses, because chances are I’ve either made them myself (not realizing how awful they are), or I understand your level of poor.  Seriously we get it, hug us and enjoy the party!

5. Stick together

On birthdays, it's common to go out drinking. Do not leave. You never realize how drunk you are until you're looking for your friends, the room is spinning and you have to pee. You should try to stick as close to your friends as possible. This is a general drinking rule. To make the most of everyone's night, the time you spend together will be the best. Then tomorrow you can make fun of each other as much as you want, because why not?

6. Don't make a big deal

This one follows the age rule. Yes, we want to have a good time on our birthday, but we also do not want you to make a spectacle. We are coping with some sort of change here. Make the birthday gal feel comfortable, and most of all make sure she's having fun. Whatever level of spectacle she might enjoy, it’s better to check first.

7. If you have never spoken to me in person, do not wish me happy birthday on Facebook. 

Chances are if you don’t recognize my name under your birthday notifications., then 1) You probably shouldn't have me on Facebook, and 2) Do not make a fake “Oh my God, happy birthday, wish we hung out more,” post.

8. Do not reveal huge secrets on birthdays (not bad ones anyway)

It should be a general rule not to reveal anything life-altering on a birthday. Some secrets are worse then others. but I assure you, most of the time aging is horrifying enough.

9. Don’t make silly birthday jokes

Singing “You look like a monkey, and you act like one too,” will probably earn you a, “Haha. Get out.” Don’t make silly jokes. We are all mature here. Or at least, some of us are. We are all up for some random humor, but birthday jokes are kind of annoying.

10. Most of all, enjoy your day!

Yes, you are a year older, but think about this way, you are much wiser. Or at least, believe you are. Birthdays are meant to be fun, so go ahead. Have fun, collegiettes!

Taco Salad Fun!!

So I am posting this moblily so please bear with me typo wise!

I am in the process of moving back into the city for my third year of university. And surprisingly that happened quicker then I would have liked.

Summer flew by! A cliche I know, but true notheless.

So in my past time I have been cooking up some new and some personal favourite recipe. I have been, for the most part, preparing recipes has been a challenge. Recently, I committed myself to accepting the challenge and keeping myself occupied in the short days I have left in my parents home! Today, I made a very simple recipe for taco salad.

To make the taco salad, you need fresh ingredients.
1 pckge of lean ground beef
1 pckge of Taco Seasoning (you can use Old Elpaso, or Taco Bell, I like both!)
1 large tomato (chopped)
1 1/2 heads of Romane lettuce (sliced or chopped)
2 cups of shredded cheese
1 bag of Tositios tortilla chips (crushed)

1. You in a medium frying pan, cook lean ground beef on med heat, until almost fully cooked. Then add your taco season and fry for another 2-3 minutes until most of season has been absorbed.

2. In a large bowl, combine lettuce, tortilla chips, chopped tomatoes, cheese and hamburger.

3. You will need at this point to make your dressing. (Which I will tell you about below)

4. Make sure you mix these ingredients together well.

Dressing time!

3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons of vingear
2 tablespoons of honey mustard flavour (basically just a added flavour)
1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper
1/2 cup of vegetable oil.

1. You will need to wisk together the Dijon mustard and vingear.
2. Add your salt and pepper
3. Combine & wisk your vegetable oil slowly.
4. Add the honey mustard, wisking until dressing is semi-thick

You will then need to add the dressing to the salad.

Finally, you add salsa and sour cream when you serve!