katie in minneapolis

So, yes. That is me in the brand spankin’ new Vikings jersey (#28 no less) that Nike and the team revealed to the world on April 25. I’m still not 100% sure why, but Nike selected me and 28 other people from the Twin Cities to attend a private reveal party that was nothing short of amazing.

First, they showed up to my work a few days prior and presented me with this custom football and fancy invite to show up to the W Hotel for a special party. That’s all they really told me.

So the night of, I walk into the Foshay, am greeted by the Nike folks and am told to change into a new pair of Nikes (these to be exact!). Next, I and the rest of the “Chosen 28″ are loaded onto a charter bus and shipped over to the Metrodome where the Vikings Draft party was taking place. We got to hang in a private suite with food and drinks.

Next, we’re loaded back onto the bus and are dropped off at the Weisman Art Museum and brought into this private room that’s decked out in Nike everything – including the new Vikings jerseys. Oh, and more food and more drinks.

After a short while, the Nike folks gave a breakdown of all the new elements on the jersey. For example, the curves on the numbers are supposed to represent those on a Vikings ship. And per Adrian Peterson’s suggestion, there are more pads on the side of the legs because that’s where he gets hit most often. Also giving insight into the new design? Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway! He made a surprise visit to talk about the jersey and what it was like for him getting drafted.

If I didn’t think this night was cool enough, it got better. After the jersey talk Nike invited all of us to jump in line to create our own NIKEiD’s on an iPad. Second, they had us get decked out in Vikings gear for a mini photo shoot. And after that? We were handed a huge travel bag stocked up with Nike merch. So unreal. Some of things I was especially loving in the bag: these Nike Dunk Sky Hi vintage wedges and these logo leggings.

Once we wrapped up at the Weisman, we were shipped back to the W for an after party at Prohibition.

It was such a fun night and I got to meet some really cool folks from around town. Thank you Nike Football for including me! I felt pretty special.

It’s officially music festival season! With the second weekend of Coachella now gone and only one month until I depart for Electric Daisy Carnival – Chicago, I decided to spend part of my Saturday making flower headbands to wear while dancing my ass off under the (hopefully) hot sun.

They’re very easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Elastic (3/4 inch thick)
2. Fake flowers
3. Hot glue gun
4. Scissors

First, wrap the elastic around your head at a comfortable length. Overlap the elastic an inch at the end and mark them – so you’ve got an extra inch on each end after you cut it. This is where you’ll overlap and secure the elastic with the glue gun later on.

Next, cut your flowers!

Next, apply the hot glue on the back of your flower.

Place the flower onto the elastic. Repeat this all the way down. Don’t forget to leave an inch on both ends free of flowers.

Final step: Apply glue to the 1 inch ends of elastic and connect the two together. Press together until cool.

And ta-da! You’ve transformed into a flower child. Now you’re ready for a weekend of frolicking, dancing, hula-hooping and whatever else you do at music fests.

Like I said above, I’m heading to Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Chicago next month. I’m so excited especially since it’s the first year this fest is going to be in Chicago (or Joliet, rather, in the Chiagoland Speedway). After seeing them at Coachella last year, I can’t wait to see Kaskade and David Guetta again. Also looking forward to dancing to Tiesto, Avicii, Above & Beyond and Armin Van Buuren for the first time. Fingers crossed for warm weather!

It’s Friday! Here are some things I’ve taken a liking to this week. Hopefully they get you thinking, dancing or just prepared for a fulfilling weekend.

• What I wish I had known when I was starting as an artist: Local artists Guante, Dessa and Mark Nelson joined Kerri Miller on MPR’s “The Daily Circuit” to talk about finding success in the arts, defining what success means and revealing the best advice they ever received. I thought it was really interesting to hear the different perspectives and the nuggets of knowledge applicable to any industry. Listen here.
• Dove Real Beauty Sketches: A new campaign from Dove is an eye-opening look at how women view themselves vs. how others see them. I found it heartbreaking and inspiring which I think was the point. It reminds us to not harp on the little things that bother us about our appearance because other people likely don’t even notice. Without getting too analytical about the strategy of the ad (it is an ad afterall), I think most women can relate in some way.

• Beyoncé! Dancing with past Beyoncés! I could never pick a favorite.

A couple weeks ago I was able to go see Little Green Cars perform at 7th Street Entry. They’re a young band from Ireland who are on tour promoting their debut album “Absolute Zero.” I love their five-piece harmonies, rural sound and quirky look. The show was fun, especially in the intimate setting of the Entry.

Hello there! While I’m not totally abandoning this blog, I’m going to start focusing on my Tumblr blog for a while. So if you’re interested in sticking with me…

Click here to follow me!

Or, click here to subscribe in your reader.

{Poodle pic included for no other reason than it’s amazing}

Local hip hop muse Dessa announced today that she’s launching a lipstick to raise money for CARE.org‘s POWER WITHIN campaign which helps educate girls in developing countries. She’s basically the local version of Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Beth Ditto with their Viva Glam MAC lines…but way cooler, duh!

Created by The Elixery, the deep red shade is appropriately named after the songstress.

I LOVE a good red lip. Right now my favorite is MAC’s Pro Longwear Lipglass “Driven by Love.” It stays on really well and and doesn’t look awkward when it rubs off like a lot of reds do.

What do you think of Dessa’s color? I’m thinking it looks pretty great with her skin tone. I might need a significant tan to pull that off (damn these Irish roots).

Oh — she’s throwing a party to celebrate the launch on Sept. 15.

New life goal: Create a lipstick named after me that supports charity. How can I make this happen?

Some things I’ve come across the interwebs this week…

Daft Punk and Lindsay Lohan collabo

Lisa Frank iPhone app will blow your mind

Yes, people. There’s a Lisa Frank iPhone app that allows you to Frank-ify your photos. Complete with different sticker and border options, this is about to provide me with endless hours of fun. I think I still have some of my sticker collection from (way) back in the day. But on a side note, I can’t look at this for too long before it gives me a headache.

Mr. Rogers auto-tuned

Speaking of childhood throwbacks…Late last week this video, produced by PBS, had the social media world bobbing and swaying along to an auto tuned Mr. Rogers. It’s a mashup of different show clips set to a soothing and slightly eerie song titled, “Garden of Your Mind.” Brought back so many memories (how many of you wanted that trolley or stop light in your room growing up?). Watch it and then I’d like you to answer: Have you ever seen a cat’s eyes in the dark and wondered what they were?

Happy Friday!

I told you this was coming. Behold my second pallet project:

And the final product:

For this table I just used tape, primer and spray paint. I had some help attaching the legs and also had sealant put over the paint. Pretty easy peasy! What do you think?

And in honor of my new table, here are a few of my favorite (British) things:

Chip, chip, cheerio!

I drank the Pinterest Kool-Aid a while back and only just recently decided to attempt one of the many DIY ideas I’ve come across. I’m talking about pallets, people. Before Pinterest, I would never have thought of all the cool things you can make out of these seemingly useless shipping boards. Welp, here’s how my attempt at making a wall shelf went…

First, to acquire said pallets, my mom and I did some light dumpster hunting. You can find these guys behind just about any factory, industrial building, or retail store. You might get some weird looks as you shove these into your car but don’t let that stop you.

Second, I used sand paper (60 grain and 100 grain) to smooth down rough edges and get rid of excess dirt. Then I put a coat of primer over the whole pallet.

Added a couple coats of paint…

To spice it up a bit, I added a coat of gold glitter paint by Martha Stewart (the woman thinks of everything!)

Not gonna lie, hanging this thing was a kind of a pain. Make sure you have a power drill and heavy screws on hand! (Or in my case – a handyman willing to help a novice DIY-er in distress)

And finally, the decorations. I haven’t decided what I’ll put on here yet – but you get the idea.

Pretty cute, right? There are more pallet projects in my future. Almost done with a coffee table…stay tuned!

I’m not really one outfit posts, but this skirt was too fun not to share. It’s by ArielSimone and I wore it to MNfashion’s The Shows last week. I lovingly call it my mullet skirt…short in front, long in back…get it? I’m excited for it to be warm enough to sport sans tights and maybe with some chunky wedges. It totally reminds me of spring!

And with Adrienne Yancy of ArielSimone. Gimme those boots, girl!

Top: thrifted; necklace: LEN; belt: Urban Outfitters; skirt: ArielSimone (duh); clutch: BCBG

Photos courtesy of ArielSimone

And if you’re curious, my choice for best dressed at the Oscars:

The color! The ruffles! The little bow brooch! Is this going to be the year of the peplum? I wouldn’t mind. Way to go, Michelle.