a lonestar state of southern

Dallas decided to seemingly switch seasons this week, y’all. We’re talking a jump from the mid 70s to straight up, humid 90s! I didn’t see it coming whatsoever, but if I’m being honest… I’ve loved the foreshadowing of summer, and the excuse to hit the pool in this darling set! Regardless, it reminded me that another month has wrapped up since our last coffee date, and that it’s high time for another!

If you’re new around here, these “coffee dates” are monthly posts that are a little different from the norm… I use them to get us all “caught up” on my latest Instagrams as well as real life happenings! (Because how old do filtered photos get after a while…)

Today is our 14th coffee date, and if you’re looking to get all caught up, you’ll find the last 13 below. Simply scroll below to see (and shop, if you want to!) my latest Instagrams. And don’t forget… I’ll have a most likely incredibly wordy life recap beneath.

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cut out sun hat // straw clutch (also love this one)

platform wedges (worn here) // tassel clutch

embroidered top (zara kids, similar here) // white jeans // nude wedges // marcie crossbody

red crossbody

pink pleated tank // white skinny jeans // strappy heels // white floral necklace // white clutch // bamboo bracelets

m.gemi strappy wedges // pink tassel tote (similar navy style here)  // off the shoulder bikini top

green ruffle romper // ankle strap heels // pink tassel tote (similar here)

white lace romper (comes in 4 colors) // pink tassel tote (similar here) // ankle strap heels // schiap lipstick

off the shoulder top // white skinny jeans // m.gemi strappy wedges // tan crosbody (in blush and black here)

vineyard vines hat // nike tennis shoes // workout top // athletic shorts

kate spade peony crossbody

scallop skirt // monogrammed sandals

white bell sleeve top (finally back in all sizes, available for pre-order!)

neon tassel tank top

off the shoulder top // white denim cutoffs // gold tory burch sandals // white tassel earrings (old H&M, similar here)

pineapple water bottle   |   blue tassel bead bracelet

pink and green palm tree dress

Last month’s coffee date was posted the day before my birthday, so let’s begin catching up on that! This year, the big day fell on a Wednesday. I always find Wednesday birthdays a little awkward considering they’re smacked in between two weekends… know what I mean? Luckily for me, though, that meant three celebrations!

My aunt and uncle came in the weekend before, where we partook in my favorite birthday tradition – a little crawfish boil. And by little, I should clarify that I consumed 4 lbs of crawfish. I should also clarify that I am not exaggerating. #beachbod On Wednesday, I had a fun dinner with the rents, and on Thursday I got to celebrate with all of my friends!

And y’all… are you ready for the cutest birthday story ever? The cowboy is currently doing an oil rotation out in the Texas panhandle, which means he has a crazy schedule. Basically, he’ll work a full 7 days on with 2 days off, and then 8 days on with 4 days off. (Weird, right?) We had planned for him to come to Dallas the Friday after my birthday (he had a 4 day break from Thursday to Sunday) so after cake with my parents on Wednesday night, I was almost in bed thinking birthday celebrations had come to a close.

At about 11:15 pm, however, he gave me a call to check in and see how my birthday had been, and proceeded to ask if I’d received the UPS package he’d had delivered to my door earlier that day. “Umm… no, I got your flowers, but a UPS package?” “Yeah! I got a notification that it was delivered,” he said, “you haven’t seen it?” Cue me wandering through the house in search of this thing, eventually winding up on the porch to see if I’d missed it… and that’s when I saw him! The crazy kid had driven 7 hours straight from work to make it into Dallas in time for my birthday!

*insert this emoji x100*

Right? I still get jittery when I think about it. So needless to say… a birthday for the books, for sure!

The next few weekends were marked by travel. Brenham, TX for a wedding, Austin, TX to visit one of my best friends, Amanda (see the cute pink and teal cafe picture above), Oklahoma City and then Houston to meet up with the cowboy on another one of his breaks! I’m quickly learning that hectic travel schedules do not make for happy, clear skin… does anyone have any favorite face washes/remedies that fight breakouts? Hit this girl up.

Perhaps my biggest update of the past month? Finally moving into my new apartment! (Please play this song for dramatic effect, and if you’d like to hear more about my decision to move after taking a year post-graduation to live at home, be sure to check out this post!) It has been SO fun, y’all. I’m absolutely loving the extra space, the gorgeous pool, and the puppies every single resident (besides me) seems to own! A few realizations about moving:

1. It takes SO LONG. I’m still in process.. like as I type this, there’s a huge pile of stuff (honestly I have no idea what’s in those boxes) behind me. Will it ever end?!

2. Mattresses are expensive. Wait until you have to buy one of those for yourself. Sheesh.

3. Got IKEA furniture? I’m an IKEA furniture building wizard. Two chests of drawers, a desk, a desk chair (yes, I had to build that too), two bar stools and a shelving unit later, I feel like I’ve more than earned the title. In fact, I may go so far as to say IKEA furniture building QUEEN. Go ahead and add that to my resume.

I’ll be sharing more and more of it as it all comes together, so stay tuned for some fun interior design posts!

My final update, and I’m a little hesitant about sharing this, is that I reached a personal goal that I’ve had since starting this blog… 100K Instagram followers. But before you read any further, I want you to hear that there’s only one reason I’m sharing this here, and it’s to say that I don’t feel any cooler, any more accomplished, or any more fulfilled because of it! Moment of honesty? I totally thought I would.

Like I said, since day 1 of blogging I thought to myself “Wouldn’t it be so cool if I could get there?” And for sure, there’s been a lot of hard work that’s gone into it that I’m proud of. But y’all, I seriously want to shake myself from three years ago and say “Kate, it changes nooothing.” Because I think subconsciously I had it in my head that once I reached that mark, I’d finally feel successful. I’d finally feel accomplished. I’d finally be happier in my blogging journey, and happier as a person.

And guess what.

It didn’t! It doesn’t. And I’m so, so thankful to have reached that point simply to experience the reminder that the stuff on this earth just doesn’t satisfy. It’s easy and natural for all of us to wish for a “certain magical something” we think will make everything better, right? For me in high school, it was having the new Tory Burch purse everyone was carrying. #Lol. Maybe for you it’s a new car, a boyfriend, or like me, a certain number of Instagram followers.

Sister, we’ve all been there. In fact, it’s still something I catch myself doing daily. I guess I just wanted to use this little life-lesson I stumbled into this past month to encourage you (and to remind me) to want more, and to not look to things to satisfy that were never created to. Enjoy them, have fun with them, be thankful for those things for sure… but don’t buy the lie that the grass is only greener when you make it to the next hill! Because I’m finding that when we do that, we miss out on the gorgeous flowers and cute bunnies and sunshine all around us in the current grass we’re in. (I realize that was a stretch and exceptionally cheesy… so thanks for sticking with me.)

If you feel like you keep running after things that keep letting you down, that don’t fill you up or bring the joy to your life that you’d expected them to, I want to tell you I’ve been there. We probably all have or are at one point or another.

I also want to tell you that the only place I’ve consistently and unfailingly found that total joy and happiness and belonging and peace hasn’t been in Instagram followers, clothes, friends/boyfriend/family, vacations, new apartments, etc. (like I so often believe and expect to, trust me…) It’s been in my relationship with Jesus Christ. The fact that he died for me, in the midst of me chasing things that aren’t him, because he loves me. That’s it. And if that’s something you want to chat about, puhlease email me at [email protected]!

Soapbox over. ;)

Wow… looking back through this month, I’m realizing it has been one of the busiest yet. And I’m literally dumbfounded that we are only weeks away from June! Whaaaat?! I hope everyone is staying cool and wrapping up classes and finals in a fun, non-stressful way! For those of us heading into our first working summer… want to start a support group or something? *gulp*

Before I sign off, I thought it would be fun to share a few personal pics I’ve taken over the last month. Hope you enjoy!

Tattoo and I after a jump lesson.

Wednesday night before the cowboy arrived – my cute dad and I at my birthday dinner!

Birthday celebration with this tall (literally, incredibly tall) glass of water.

Walking Town Lake in Austin with one of my best friends, Amanda. (We failed at a jumping pic…)

Sailing Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo con mis amigos!

Love from Texas,

Kate

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5