A Step in the Right Direction.

Photo credit; Amber Walker

Last week, I was brave.
    I walked right into a situation that was slightly, scary and with a confidence that wasn't at all like myself.
    One of my best friends invited me to her birthday party where I knew I would know no one other than her. At first, I automatically was thinking of excuses for why I couldn't go; I would simply stay at home and write her a Facebook message that night.
     However, the more I thought about it, I realized that was taking the cowards' way out and I truly valued her friendship-- enough that I texted her my RSVP that I would for sure be there.

 I had a great time picking out her gift and successfully pushed all of my nerves out of the way in order to not have a break down (Not really, but sometimes I get really nerved up over... well, nothing). When Thursday of last week finally rolled around, I was smack-dab in the middle of Nerve City. And I had a fashion crisis. And I almost couldn't find her house. And I kept reminding myself that I would be fine.

     And I was just that.
     I laughed, acted like myself, made new friends, forgot I had braces, and made new plans.
    
Sometimes, stepping down the path of the unknown or the path less traveled, is the way to go.

happily,
mckenna k. xx

{Nerd Chic.}

Okay. SO.
I have braces. Yup.

I have always been crazy self-conscious when it came to my teeth. I had the weird "Vampire teeth" that I acquired after being a wimp when I was a kid (when it came to wiggly teeth.) and my gap never filled in.

Sooooo... it was time to fix those suckers! ;)

A totally "Eunice" worthy picture.. If you don't get this reference, you are seriously deprived.

I debated over the color for weeks! I started with the obvious first choice: pink, but then quickly decided that was cliche and too girly.. Then, I had my mind set on red (my bedroom walls are painted the obnoxious red for a reason), and that one was soon shot down, due to the fact I wear hardly any red. 

You bet I went through every color of the rainbow before coming to the conclusion. 

 I decided on blue. A versatile, easy-to-wear, and my new-favorite-color blue. :)

And one of these times I am totally going to talk them into putting a different color on each one ;)

I have been slowly starting to accept the new addition to my face.. The first few days were AWFUL. I felt ugly & not myself at all.

However, after I went to one of my dearest friends' birthday party one night this week, I had so much fun and felt myself again. So much in fact, that I forgot I had braces :)

So, for 18 MONTHS-- Woohoo, for jewelry in my mouth! (I should market that.)

My braces mini-photoshoot soon turned me into a diva. Note to self: Don't play Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj and Queen while taking pictures... And I can't believe I just admit that I listen to the Minaj...

 On that note!

contently,

mckenna k. xx

My Notebook Moment.

In between changing for photoshoots and shooting endless outfit posts (more will be posted later this week... month... and year.. we took a ton), I had to be an idiot and totally lay in the middle of a busy street, with two corners on each side, to create the famous Notebook moment...

So with my grandfather keeping watch, I laid in the street... like an dork... laughing my butt off because I couldn't believe how stupid I was.

Here's the shot when a car was rounding the corner.. going to crush me to my death...

However, I only have one thing to say for myself: Where is MY Ryan Gosling?!?

mckenna k. xx

Saturday Discoveries.

Car rides, finding the "best coffee ever," random boat photo-ops, and beautiful flowers.

Saturday Heaven.

with a content sigh,

mckenna k. xx

Thoughts on a Friday: Take #.. 25?

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk on earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." --Leonardo da Vinci

Whichever Way the Wind Blows.

 If you have been reading my blog any length of time, you know that I often struggle with insecurity issues. I go through rough patches were I am incredibly negative and no fun to be around (just ask my family).
     Lately, I have been doing much better, and I have been starting to see myself in a new light.  A good light, and I could get used to it.

 My mother and I have been planning to do a collaboration for ages; she takes amazing photographs (as I am sure you can tell), and I love the styling/modeling side. We also have the benefit of living extremely close to the ocean. So, when you throw that into one big cocktail, you get the closest thing to perfection!
       This was the first time I had picked out outfits, modeled them and listened to the direction of someone else behind the camera, and we had a blast! She is a freakin' expert photographer (she took almost 800 shots, so be prepared for many, many blog posts), and together, we had great direction!
        So, here is to the newest mother/daughter collaboration: McAmber! (The title is still a major work in progress...)

This photoshoot also helped me in other areas than my artistic blogging. I actually felt really beautiful when I looked through the shots and I felt like me, again. So, I encourage you to do something outside of your comfort zone, and you might be surpirsed on how much you come out of your shell. :)

happily,

mckenna k. xx

Antique-ing Finds.

Last Saturday when I was doing endless photoshoots on the island with my mom & grandmother (be on the lookout for those, reeeeally soon!), we noticed the NEATEST looking antique store on the way back inland. I mean, we are talking complete American Pickers worthy here people!

 

 

Needless to say, we stopped, we took pictures, we tried to see everything and ended up having some great detour-adventure fun!

 

 

make sure to make the un-planned stops! :)

antique-y,
mckenna k. xx

{Tattoo Tuesday!}

Since I am a self-proclaimed tatoo-obsesser/lover/wanter (whatever you want to call it), I figured I would share some of my favorites :)

here are the tattoos. enjoy.

i usually hate skull tattoos, but i kinda love this one.

cred; Skunkboy Creatures.

cred; Drops of Jupiter.

after seeing this triangle tattoo on one of my favorite artists, I instantly feel in love.
now i want a triangle.. baaaaad.

more triangles i love.

brb tattoo-obsessing,
mckenna k. xx

all pictures from pinterest (unless otherwise listed.)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

credit; Amber Walker

Exactly a month ago today, I started writing a "currently" post, and if you check any blogs of the likes of Danielle's or Maria's, you know that it is the "currently" time of the month again!
     Since I had so much fun doing it last month, I figured I would make it into a once-a-month series to keep you updated on all things McKenna: my likes, hopes, and what it is I am dreading (if you haven't been reading my perpetual amount of tweets lately..).

What's new; Working out. Yup. You read that right, and I am sure you are now about to, either a) have a heart attack or b) laughing at the computer screen, because McKenna K just does not work out. However, this month I forced myself to start running.. and I actually liked it.
     Yup. You read that right too. So, to meet my inspired-awesome-quote quota of the month, I will say this, if you have been dreading to work out or you don't think you will like it, DO IT. Because if a self-declared exercise-hater like myself can do it, you can too :)

Reading; Now I know this is going to sound utterly ridiculous, but I have yet to read a "great" book since Fault in Our Stars, (you can read my review here). And by "great," I don't mean my typical turn-brain-off-and-read kid of genre.
      I read the last installment of the Maximum Ride series, which was pretty depressing considering those books were like my childhood, and I finally broke down and bought Royally Crushed, which is a book about a girl who falls in love with a prince of a small European country (yes, I know. So cliche for me, but hey before you judge me, it was actually pretty good).
      However, I think my next read has "great" potential: The Shell Seekers, which I have gotten countless good reviews on. :)

Watching; I have been pretty much watching all the same shows from my last post-- Bunheads (which took a weird turn, so I might not be watching this much longer..), White Collar (it hasn't been too great this season), Covert Affairs, and Teen Mom.
     I have also been watching So You Think You Can Dance, of which I have been a huge fan since... *what feels like* forever. I literally had my first cry-during-a-dance moment this year. So. Good.
     Lastly, I have been watching every. single. interview. of Robert Pattinson. If you have no clue why I am so sad for him, then you must be living a) in the woods and you have just escaped or b) under a rock.

Thinking about; Lately, my mind has been in overdrive. I have been thinking about so much.. haha. Everything from blog posts to dying my hair, when I should clean my room to how to mend arguments with friends, and tabloid drama to my future, has been swirling around in my head in a great ball of mumbo-jumbo. I seriously need to chill.. brb, gonna go work on that. :)

Eating; I am officially a VEGETARIAN!! Last time I did this post, I was attempting (and not succeeding) to become a non-meat eater, but now I can say that for 34 DAYS, I have been a veggie-head. (GO ME!!)
     That being said, probably my greatest find for vegetarian food have been these spinach "chicken" nuggets. They seriously taste good and you don't even miss McDonald's.

Wishing for; Many, many things-- to finish some DIY projects, to make it to the Jonas Brothers one-time-only reunion concert (I LOVED them when they were big), to have a smooth sailing year, to decide what I am going to do in the future, to volunteer more, to travel travel travel, to fall in love, to be more self-confident, to be open to meeting new people, and to work out more!

Listening to; ED SHEERAN. I have seriously been listening to this guy on non-stop replay. And I don't think that will be ending any time soon :) I would also tell you what my favorite tracks are from his debut album +, but that would be all of them.. and that would just take up to much room.
     I also have been listening to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift; I am a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, but when I heard the title of this new single, I was a little leery. However, I now can't get the DARN THING OUT OF MY HEAD, and I will never be hesitant to another one of her tunes. :)

I seriously wrote this at 3:40 in the morning... while singing We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together...
mckenna k. xx

~[Inspiration on a Friday.

Miley Cyrus' new spread in Maire Claire.
Every shot is perfection.

Danielle Peazer. 'Nuff said.
still trying to find this shirt, btw. I think it might be vintage.. Even better! :)

Nicole Richie's new campaign.

I am not even a fan of Gossip Girl, but
when I saw this screen shot in a fashion magazine,
I literally gasped.

A picture Taylor recently tweeted.
Gotta love some polka dots on polka dots.

all my love,

mckenna k. xx