There are times when moving on is necessary--for me, this is one of those times. Today will mark the second day YouTube removed my montages for copyright claims. I'm still confused as to why, considering they didn't remove my channel(s) after almost every one of my videos were either blocked in some part of the world or marked with ads next to it.

Here's what the situation comes down to: sure, I should have gotten permission to use the audio tracks, however, they were all payable off iTunes and (obviously) released to the public for use in projects such as commercials and montages. However, there is a big difference between commercials and what I do.

I was using physical media released for public use as long as I did not make profit off it--and I didn't. I was requested to become a partner because of my high viewing average, and I declined. I suppose I should be more gracious to YouTube for letting me stay on their service for 4 years combined without removing me more than twice, and that is something I cannot erase--my gratitude, because YouTube gave me hundreds of comments and support, thousands of friendly greetings and millions of views.

Considering there are young kids making lyric videos who are partners and are making profit off of Britney Spears' latest hit, I thought it was necessary to speak my peace. From now on, I will be boycotting YouTube for the montage realm of things. I had my "farewell montage" set for January of 2012, to the song "Love You 'Til The End" by The Pogues, so I was well emotionally prepared. Being forced to say goodbye to your baby that you nurtured and adored for so many years is hard. Very hard, but I will rise above.

YouTube needs more creative freedom with their copyright laws and have to understand the artistic and therapeutic side of montaging, not the swindling and stealing side that only craves money and a ride with fame. I will keep them as my vlog host and continue to gain views and friends there.

My deepest apologies and gratitude to my large following of fans and viewers. The song "Love You 'Til The End" holds so much meaning for me, especially in relation to how Ekaterina Gordeeva, Sergei Grinkov and the rest of the Gordeeva/Kulik family shaped the person I am today. I love Katia, Sergei, Ilia, Daria and Liza and will continue to keep their bright smiles and beautiful hearts close to mine. I am a product of influence and inspiration from their strength and perseverance. From my heart to yours, dear viewers and supporters, I'll love you 'til the end.

While blog-hopping this morning, I found a quirky blog post idea: my life in six words. So, I decided to take this blogger up on their suggestion to try it myself!

My life is: Resilient. Complicated. Passionate. Enduring. Comical. Service-Oriented.

What are your six words?

Every once in a while, I come across a quote good enough to write down (or, at least put in my "Favorite Quotations" part of Facebook...). This is a compiled list of the ones I keep dear to me. Have favorite quotations? Please send me an email at UKatcom@aol.com!


"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein

"Try to smile at least once every day and just tell the person who you love, 'I love you.' It's so great!" - Ekaterina Gordeeva

"Our honor depends upon our honesty." - Sergei Grinkov

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela

"Your family is the most important thing in your life; you always have to keep your family very close. You can't dwell on the past, every single day is a new day and you can make the best out of it!" - Daria Gordeeva

"Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom." - Thomas Jefferson

‎"Speak your mind, cause bitin' your tongue hurts!" - Helen B.

"Be inspired to ignore their ignorant message, and feel gratitude in your heart that you are not burdened or addicted to hate, as they are." - Lady GaGa

"I don't think people are cut out for someone like me, but it is okay. In the end, wisdom and mercy always surrender. When people learn mercy and love, they truly learn of living." - Kathryn C (myself).

"Common courtesy, common sense, common decency, common law, common knowledge; all not so common today." ~ Helen B.

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." - Vaclav Havel

"I always found comfort in knowing--if people are not loving me for me completely, at least I know who the true people are in my life. If anything it was a blessing that those people stopped showing they care. I don't want people in my life that don't care about me. Get rid of the people in your life that don't accept you for you. Conditional love is not love." - Chris Crocker

"The stars look satisfied, confidently holding up the sky. They make it seem so simple... they know where their place is, so why don't I?" - Derik Nelson, "Circles"

"I know who I am--not just the character that people see. I know who I am at the end of the day when I've got sorrow in my heart. I know who I am when I wake up in the morning. But when bitches test you, it's time to testify. If you test me, I'm gonna ace you! How is a failure going to test me? How the fuck is an F gonna test an A+? That's what I wanna know." - Chris Crocker


And, the one that probably fits the best for this website and my readers is this:

"In whichever, whatever way: you are unstoppable. Don't take 'no' for an answer, pay absolutely no mind to those who want to bring you down, and feel gratitude in your heart and soul that you are who you have become today. You shine in little and bigger ways: where you achieve, where you fail, and where you give. Don't stop." - Kathryn C (myself)

Creating dream boards (or collages) has been something that has kept me occupied throughout my life. Dream boards can be made out of a variety of things, but I prefer using thick, mounting or foam-core boards that give something to grab onto, that does not deteriorate in the rain that quickly.

It is very easy to make your own dream boards. Flip through a variety of magazines and cut out the images you find suit your dreams and hopes the best. Then, cut and shape them to your liking, placing them in an overlapping arrangement on the board, eventually gluing them down when you finish the final concept.

After you finish this process, find words and quotes that you think suit the photos and glue them on top of the photo arrangement. You can add a border (like I did on the bottom of this one) if you would like as well! Go crazy with it and make it completely YOU.

After you are finished, you can stick it on a wall with double-sided tape or mount it somewhere for flawless grip. Many people enjoy creating dream boards for their therapeutic release and art therapy-feel. Having dreams is good, even if you may never achieve what the dream boards symbolize for you. The dream board example above features critical things that I feel I need in my life, in grayscale and sepia tones: love, intimacy, children/good parenting, adventure, money, relaxing places, strength, confidence, acceptance, beauty, laughter, activism and the ability to let go and appreciate the little happy things in life.

I have somewhat reflected upon the topic of myself being of Hispanic heritage, or "another race" aside from Caucasian, but I wanted to make this message clear to any teenagers that could be reading this blog:

Whatever you are... YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

My story is one, I am sure, like many others. My birth mother's father was a bigot--there is absolutely no other way to explain his hatred towards darker skinned races.

During the adoption process, my birth father, who is a Mexican, got cast out of our family story, with death threats and many personal judgments based upon preconceived stereotypes. He was taken from me.

Today, I received my first ever letter from my birth father. He was loving, articulate, kind, educated, and nothing like the Mexican stereotypes that we have in America.

Fortunately, against what my birth grandfather wished upon me, during my childhood I was raised to be educated and aware of the fact I was of Hispanic descent.

I have been appreciative and proud of my Hispanic heritage since the day I discovered it. I am currently learning Spanish from a private tutor along with high school courses and took numerous educational, Spanish-centered programs over the course of my young life. I enjoy learning a new word and seeing how my body and face changes with my deep-rooted blood ties to Mexico. I am a curvy, petite gal that has crazy thick hair and thick thighs. And even though I can't stand mildly hot salsa, I am a Mexican, and I am a proud Mexican.

Often times, I hear humorous misconceptions, or better yet, pre-conceptions, of myself and those like myself. I figured I would address some of these ideas nicely for those who may be curious of lifestyles like my own.

I am a good student, and I am not afraid to show it. This does not mean I am a goody two-shoes, or that I sit at home every Friday night looking at a pile of textbooks--this just means that I study and I get things turned in at a pace that fits best for me.

I do not use recreational drugs, nor drink, yet this does not mean I don't hangout with people that do. The photo above is a friend and I. She is 20 years old and has different lifestyle habits than I do, yet we still connect over many preferences and core values. I immerse myself in a variety of people and sides of the story, so that I can accurately judge people.

I am an abstinence and safe-sex educator/advocator, and nope, this does not mean I am against pre-marital sex. The coined term: "abstinence" can be defined as any period of time in which you decide to not engage in sexual activity. You could lose your virginity at 12, have a sexual relationship until 14, and be abstinent until you are 22--it is what ever works best for you. I choose this value for my own life and don't try to change others' minds.

I get along with my parents, respect my teachers and support abstinence, although, this doesn't mean I am religious. As well, I do not support organized religion or any person that claims to be a religion, yet sins within it, however, I do not try to alter the beliefs of others. I believe what I know--my faith begins in knowledge. It is apparent that different people are granted different knowledge.

I am 50% Mexican, but I am not a marijuana dealer (or user), and I did not cross the border illegally. I do not steal, nor do I know very much Spanish. I am an adopted child to two very Caucasian, Russian/Scottish and "German-American" wonderful parents that love me the same as any fully-white child, and, one just so happens to hold a Ph.D degree.

I dress put-together and somewhat stereotypically "preppy"--this does not mean I am an aspiring cheerleader, or am going to say: "Oh my gawd, I broke a nail!" I am one of the least "girly" girls you are ever going to meet. My favorite thing to do when I get done with my daily grind is to kick off my boots, grab a long t-shirt and lounge.

I am a teenager. This does NOT mean I love watching Glee, spend hours getting ready in the morning, act ignorant about every topic known to man, or make bad choices with my life "just because". This is the fun judgement. I like conversing with adults, challenging norms and would pick the Oprah show over Glee any day!

The point of this blog post is: we all judge, but drawing the fine line between judging to be "cool" and judging based upon knowledge is extremely crucial to learning and growing as a humble identity on this earth. Just because an individual acts a certain way does not mean they are the stereotypical type of that appearance or belief. No matter what you have been or are judged for, do not give up. There are people like you out there, all over the world, who are going through judgment and trying to find their voice to correct when others cross that fine line.

Something I have never significantly discussed on my blog before is my self image and esteem. I have written "how to be confident" posts, but not anything about how I view myself.

This post is titled "Letting Myself Go" because I have heard countless comments on my weight over the past couple years of high school, from anonymous people and petty gossip. A bit surprised? I was, too. I am not the skinniest person on this planet, and damn proud I am not a size 2 in jeans. I am not perfect, and I am blogging right now to let you all know that I know it.

I am speaking up for the voiceless, abused teenage girls everywhere that hear comments on their physical appearance from classmates and passerbys, instead of details about the gorgeous insides of their souls.

I am slightly above, yet still in the realm of average weight for my height and age--I am not obese, nor fat, only a mere bit overweight, and I work to change that every day when I get moving, get off the couch and dance, do yoga, or walk for a while. To me, a fat person is a danger to themselves, eating junk food all day, piling on the pounds and toxins. The unattractiveness of this person is rooted in the ways they disregard their body's health, but their emotional unattractiveness is caused by deeper reasons and should not be measured by their weight.

I ADORE eating and fattening my belly up, as most people who know me well could vouch for, although, I only eat a healthy diet with a sugary sweet about once a week, along with a few Starbucks spread across a couple weeks. Because of my diet restrictions, I do not consume Cow's milk, causing my stomach to be happy, and (bonus!) lowering my calorie intake to much less by not asking for whole milk or whipped cream at Starbucks.

If any of you are asking yourselves, "Man, then how does she have any flab on her whatsoever?", the answer can be found in my heritage. My Caucasian relatives, in a nutshell, are quite heavy and didn't take good care of themselves for periods in their lives, and my other half of lineage just so happens to be Hispanic, with heavier people in their lineage, too! While the stereotype of "chubby Mexicans" might not always prove to be the case, I do have a risk for gaining on the pounds because of my genetic makeup.

Ever since I was young, I enriched myself in positive body image and a high self-esteem--believing I am beautiful, sexy, hot, cute in any shape or form, and while I am not the perfect girl, I am the perfect Kathryn. There are numerous girls in this world with my name, probably more than most any other female name, but there is only one of me, and no matter how kooky or crazy I am, I am the best form of me that there is.

I know it's a cliche, but no matter your size, you should feel happy with your body, and if you are not, you need to work on your body for YOU, not for anybody else.

I am here to recommend a new, stylish beauty product that is flying off the shelves at most drug stores recently: the Sally Hansen "Crackle" overcoat nail enamel.

Choose any Sally Hansen nail enamel color, paint your nails, and apply a thin coat of any "Crackle" Sally Hansen color and watch as the nail polish forms a "crackled" look in seconds.

Crackle nail polishes are sold for about $7 in most drug stores. These are my nails with a red extra strength nail enamel and a black Crackle overcoat. I plan on investing in more colors in the near future... a must-have for girls who do not spend a fortune on salon manicures!

This summer was A-W-E-S-O-M-E! It flawlessly erased any fear I had about it becoming dull and/or going by too quickly. I decided to make it worth while and create really fun trip ideas for my family and partner Mark, as simple as they may sound to travel-adoring people.

(1) I started the summer off with Mark's high school graduation party. This is a photo of him helping set up balloons and other decorations. His grandmother and I organized the main idea, guest list and details, with tons of family helping us. I bought him a bunch of nice, small gifts, and his friends and family pitched in a lot. He says he enjoyed this day, and I truly hope it becomes a memory for a lifetime!

(2) Another thing Mark adores doing is amateur radio, so, I sucked up my boredom and put on my invisible "Super Girlfriend" disguise, spending 24 hours with him at his Field Day event. Field Day is a 24 hour competition on the same day, all over the world, in which amateur radio-ers, or "HAMs" try to make the most contacts within that period of time. I didn't get the hype, but I spent a good amount of time reading HAM Radio for Dummies. As you can tell from the photo above, we ended up sleeping in the car.

(3) Next, an event I absolutely had to attend and give my volunteer time to--one of the only days you can find me embracing the downtown area. Our local PFLAG chapter tabled at our city's annual pride parade and celebration for LGBTQ education and awareness. I am very passionate about gay rights, especially in our town, which fortunately is one of the most accepting and safe places to be a LGBTQ. Mark joined us and enjoyed the event, snapping away to capture photographic memories of the event.

(4). Portland, Oregon 3-day vacation with Mom and Mark. A lot of great memories were formed on this trip, and a lot of realizations were understood. I came to the conclusion: "I lead a very unconventional life, and yea, most people won't get that!" You would've thought that was an easy realization. Adding on to our trio's second annual trip, we visited OMSI again, saw the authentic Lan Su Chinese Garden and dined in their tea house, ate sweets at VooDoo Doughnuts, explored China Town, doughed out at Powell's Books, saw a flick, did plenty of shopping and subway hopping (see: this blog post).

(5). An event that never fails to please my family: a Mariner's baseball game! In mid-summer, the folks took Mark and I out to the ball game as we indulged in their trademark garlic fries and crackerjacks. Of course, like every year, we picked food up from Panera on our way to the light rail station!

(6). After my grandmother had passed, the family took a trip up to the town she lived in called Lincoln City, in Oregon. Lincoln City is known for its beaches and antique/knick-knack shopping, among other sorts such as gambling and family vacations. All four of us helped move her stuff and enjoyed a nice rental house on the beach.

(7). Celebrating 1.5 years of a family of five (I like to consider Mark welcome in and as our family), we enjoyed a camping trip at Illahee State Park. While visiting that area, I met up with the lovely woman that helped finalize my adoption to my parents, to say hello and catch up after all these years. The trip was a success, and learning how to cook gourmet camp food was even better! (see: this blog post).

(8). Fun for all, pets and their owners, is our annual Labor Day birthday party for dog Tess. We throw a bash that involves a 7 foot tall table of human food and treat bags for the dogs (get the pun?). Tess enjoyed turning the big 1-0 and I loved seeing family friends (see: this blog post).

(9). Friday Harbor, Washington is the main vacation the family went on this summer, which included tons of town exploring, ice cream devouring, sea food crunching and lavender farm hunting. I adore family time on the San Juan Islands. Great vacation spot for nature lovers and honeymooning couples (see: this blog post).

(10). A day trip to Seattle, Washington with Dad and Mark. Mark being able to get to know each of my parents is a big priority for me, so any time we can spend together with them individually is great. This was the day we all got a tour of the KOMO4 News building and got to meet some of their anchors, thanks to Mark's aunt, an employee there. Walking around the city and popping in a market called Piroshky, Piroshky (Russian savories and sweets) was our newer experience in Seattle (see: this blog post)!

Summer 2011 brought me a lot of wisdom and happiness, regardless of the bouts of drama and tifts along the way. I am SO blessed for the wonderful experiences and people I have been given in this lifetime, with a whole lot more to come.

(Photo of my 9 year old self)
Inspired by Andy's letter to HIS 11 year old self, here is mine...

Dear 11 Year Old Self:

You are in a big world, now. A world that isn't always forgiving, nor understanding, but, you have a big heart that will pull you out of the rubble.

Those kids making fun of you day-in and day-out at school don't have anything going for them at their young age, but you will, just trust me. If you keep holding on, you will be able to overcome and show your true talents for the world.

Service will become a big part of your life, because you care unconditionally about humans. Never give up on your caring spirit and big smile, even if your teeth are crooked and spotty. You will love these teeth and won't notice their flaws eventually (after self-confidence growth, and some dental assistance...).

Within the next year, you will make a big lifestyle change, and find God through that change in the next three years. You will discover even bigger role models, and gain a sliver of fame to keep you going, spreading your heartfelt message with the world.

Your parents are great guidance counselors and wonderful spirits to gain wisdom from. You will eventually bend and shape in your own ways, away from their beliefs and ways of life, but you will always share the same sentimental soul and grounded values with them.

I know you are feeling a lot of pain right now, but your life has yet to unfold in front of you, sweetie. Even though you may not love me at this moment in time, I have always loved you.

About four years back, I had a very flawed impression of what a teenage girl and her relationship with her mom should be like. Taking a lot of inspiration from the relationship between champion figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva and daughter, Daria, this concept of "best friends" really shaped my image of what "should be"--a laughing, happy, inseparable bond between a mother and a daughter.

Now, of course, my mother is NOT Ekaterina Gordeeva! She is quiet, reserved and not one to enjoy the spotlight. Talking to my mom is not always easy, presumably because she is a heavy and much longer book to read, while I am a thin paperback, blowing in the breeze for all to skim. When I was younger, I began to think my mom was hiding a big secret from me that she did not want to talk about, and that was why we weren't communicating smoothly. As I grew older, I learned that there was in fact no secret at all--she was merely keeping the correct amount of distance from me, her teenage daughter, not her tell-all best friend.

For some abnormal reason, perhaps this does work for Ekaterina and Daria, but personally, I see many flaws in the functionality of "best friend" mother-daughter duos, such as too close of a bond to the point of the daughter feeling overly free to express herself, with a lack of discipline on the mother's part. I know one young woman who can openly share alcoholic drinks with her mother until they're drunk-and yes, she is underage. Perhaps some of it has to do with the fact that these mothers and daughters are a very slight age difference apart, and my mom and I share an over 40-year age difference. Would it have been different with my birth mother? Probably, and it is these days.

I'm not here to criticize others' parenting choices, per se, but merely share the tips that worked best for me to develop a healthy self image in today's society and what I aspire to do for my children someday. Having my mom there to share secrets with and confide in was great, but having a boundary when situations were too personal for sharing was even better. Now, my mom and I pursue our own lives away from each other, hold individual passions, but still bond over our root pleasures such as figure skating (and Ekaterina Gordeeva), The Beatles, scrapbooking and other arts and crafts, baking, Tom Hanks and Steve Martin movies, and a heck of a lot more.

My mom isn't the best friend that I talked about sex, kissing, boys, drugs, reality TV shows, and Facebook with, she is the mentor that I asked, and still do ask questions regarding advice with sex, kissing, boys, drugs, reality TV shows, and even Facebook to. I learn from my mom, and am O.K. with saying: "I am not my mom, nor her generation."

Friday Harbor is a quaint, sweet town within the San Juan Islands in Washington state. Full of active experiences such as fishing, boating, hiking and kayaking, Friday Harbor is the best place to find your serenity within nature and enjoy a nice family get-away.

LODGING:
Rental Homes (such as this house my family stayed at):
All over Friday Harbor (and the San Juans)

Earthbox
410 Spring Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
A beautiful, natural hotel gives the "neighborhood" feel while using caring products that nurture your body, including a Spa right next door! It's all the rave in Friday Harbor. Their care packages within each "box" room, such as picking a theme of Earth, Water, Wind, etc, include free beach cruisers and more.


FOOD:
Friday's Crabhouse
Located right across from the ferry landing.
Delicious, authentic seafood caught locally and cooked at one of the numerous "stations" within the gazebo-designed restaurant that looks as if you are in the midst of a Jimmy Buffett music video. Friday's Crabhouse is where it's at!

The Market Chef
225 "A" Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
The most mouth-watering cafe food I have tasted in my life. Somewhat like a grocery store's deli, The Market Chef has a variety of sandwiches and salads that will make you come back for more. * Best, stacked crab cake EVER!

Mi Casita
95 Nichols St. 
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
One of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever been to. The plates are huge and the portions are just as filling. The waiters are very accommodating to vegetarian or pescetarian needs. Yum!

King's Market
160 Spring St
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Right in the bustle of the downtown's hottest street: Spring, King's Market and apparel provides all of your grocery needs. Stay home and cook once or twice during your stay! * Don't forget to check the beverage case in the back--they carry VOSS (seen in this article).

Friday Harbor Ice Cream Co.
1 Spring Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Over 40 flavors to choose from, located at a very convenient spot by the ferry terminal. Outside seating with great view of the local marina and islands.


ATTRACTIONS/SHOPS:
Pelindaba Lavender Farms (and stores)
33 Hawthorne Lane
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Acres of lavender tended to from the hands of those who are passionate about it. Natural, good-for-you items made from the staff's own machinery behind the farm, along with a huge store filled with rare, lavender-inspired items such as hand wipes, cooking vinegar, gourmet dog biscuits, lemonade, hot chocolate and more. A MUST-visit!

Roche Harbor Museum of Art & IMA Sculpture Park
285 Spring Street
Friday Harbor, WA
Roche Harbor is a small community located by Friday Harbor, the park is located within it, and the museum can be found at the address above. The sculpture park has over 100 pieces of artwork spanning over a hike of 30 minutes or more. Family events are held seasonally with guest artists.

Dockside Treasures
110 Front St # 6
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Knick-knacky shop filled with souvenirs to take with you while you are waiting for your ferry ride home. I purchased a lovely ring (that did not turn my finger green) from their extensive selection of jewelry and a lovely ceramic storage dish that I absolutely love.

Griffin Bay Bookstore
155 Spring Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250-1669
Confidently the biggest bookstore in Friday Harbor, "the local Barnes & Noble", home to stationary gifts, journals and many more "reading accessories".

Sweet Spot
30 East St
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Great for the young and young at heart. Confectionary shop filled with old-fashioned bins and selections of candy priced by the piece, as low as $.5!

Serendipity Used Bookstore
225 A St
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Great finds daily at about half of retail bookstores' prices. Loads of books and genres to choose from along with a very friendly staff.

Friday Harbor Trading Co.
180 1st Street North
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
"A Northwest nautical gift shop" filled with knick-knacks and treasures from the sea.

Lime Kiln State Park
Unit Main, 1567 West Side Road
Friday Harbor, WA 98250-8602
Great for a picnic or a walk to see the whales and dolphins. Whale plush toys, videos and "listening" exhibit located in the visitor center.

The Hot Shop
260 Spring St # 1
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
The spiciest place in Friday Harbor--a shop filled with sauces, salsas and all other things flaming hot!

Friday Harbor Drug
210 Spring Street West, 
Friday Harbor
Great drug store for all of your vacation needs.

* Shops located on Spring Street can guarantee a great find for those with little or a lot to spend!

While enjoying our family vacation to Friday Harbor, Washington (part of the San Juan Islands), I found some awesome treasures I wanted to share. Some San Juan-related, some not.

From left to right: A memorabillia t-shirt from a local shop near Friday's Crabhouse, a delicious seafood restaurant that caters to all needs, along with a souviner "Friday Harbor" box from a shop by the ferry boat terminal, and a gift ring from latter as well.

Middle: A couple books I found at Serendipity's used bookstore (featured: O's Guide to Life book about numerous lifestyle topics and What If, a book highlighting "what if?" scenarios in life for the faint-hearted). While visiting the whale watching exhibit at Lime Kiln State Park, I picked up 3 postcards for a dollar. The sunglasses are from Friday's Crabhouse side shop where I purchased my tee.

Far right: Items from Pelindaba Lavender Farm, a natural San Juan farm that grows and produces their own products at their main farm located in Friday Harbor. My mom adores lavender--everything lavender!! Together, we purchased (and now share) five products from Pelindaba: a pitcher mix of lavender lemonade, lavender tea lights, lavender honey, lavender skin salve and lavender soothing hand wipes. The dog also shared our lavender joy while enjoying two small gourmet, lavender-chicken biscuits.

Friday Harbor has a LOT of fun shops and with rare experiences like Pelindaba Farms and Friday's Crabhouse, you never go without things to do. Two items not featured above in the photos are:

 

VOSS water, artesian water from Norway, sold in local drug and grocery stores, as well as Bobino cord wraps--small, medium and large, perfect for earphones, USB cords and other electronic accessories.

This topic is inspired by a list of "things to blog about" written by Chris Brogan. Ever since I was very young, I have encountered numerous critics, judging my outsides and the inside character I confidently hold. I think being confident has had a lot to deal with how I handle critics.

These are a few of my "tips" to consider for yourself when critics try to knock you down:

• What do these critics spend the most of their time on? This thought is the one you may consider spending the majority of set time pondering. If this person who is attacking you for your way of life doesn't live a fulfilling, happy life, they are, in my observations, more likely to beat you down because of their lack of contentment in their own life. Most unhappy individuals who haven't reached enlightenment within therapy or their own coming-to-terms with the facts of life are less developed in the "happy-for-others" department. 


• How old are these critics? The majority of mine have been older. I had bullies when I was a child, but I can easily get along with 90% of the peers I meet without flaw. The reason mine were/are older is because the generation before my own held different expectations and morale of teenagers than my generation, so they receive my desire to beat the odds and become responsible (somewhat grow up too fast) with shock and do not understand how to react to it.


• What is the lifestyle of these critics? Did these individuals grow up with abuse or any form of damage to their self-esteem? That may play a part as well. Even worse, many people who came from a family life that wasn't very open with their negative feelings (nor honest) don't develop a recognized sense of reality and how you are supposed to treat human beings in this society, at least with our national, American norms. Regardless, maybe they weren't raised in the same society and just flat-out do not understand you! This can offer some empathy to the attacker.


• Would you ever critique someone for the reason this critic is critiquing you? If you find the main reason these people are disliking you, maybe you can sympathize with it. For example, I judge people based on their morale--not their outside appearance, income or background. I judge people for the here-and-now, the conscious choices they make on a daily basis that I perhaps do not agree with. If you disagree within political issues or recreational behaviors, maybe you can see that person more clearly. We all judge people and there is no way of getting around that fact.

Just because someone may disagree or have a beef with you on how you live your life, it doesn't give them the right to criticize or make fun of you for it. There are so many bloggers out there sharing exactly what is on their minds with no reserve. I use a good amount of reserve, as a matter of fact, because a light-hearted lifestyle blog should not be taken so darn seriously. However, I still like to cut to the chase and let my readers know exactly how I am feeling in a given moment. 

Right now, I'm feeling a bit discouraged by all of the weight given to every single person on this earth for being who they are. Yes, adults, I enjoy being mature and I enjoy proving I am ahead of my game, because if I wasn't, I would be in deep, deep trouble--predictably harming my body with substances, not giving a "f**k" about my life and having little to no dreams for my future like a good portion of teenage society in this day in age. Do you try to convey the message that it is GOOD to hold that standard of success? I honestly don't believe so. Self-destruction and hatred is not something I mess with, and I can't apologize for being me. 

Never apologize for being who you are, and never bash others for their faults; we all have them. If you enjoy smoking a joint responsibly, good for you. If you enjoy drinking until you're sick, good for you. And, if you like getting good grades, good for you! If you like respecting your parents, good for you. If you like mouthing off to your teachers, good for you. The world is your oyster and you decide what will nurture it. As Colleen Zaruba says, "The world is your oyster; you are the pearl, nestled in the infinite sea of love."

 
My pup's 10th birthday was nearing when I realized something astonishing: in the past year of blogging regularly, my blog readers have never been "formally" introduced to my black Labrador Retriever, Tess.

So, I thought I should make a blog post. The photo above is Tess. She is a very lively dog for her age and adores being around her doggie friends. Much like her human sister (me) when she was little, she eats anything, including rocks.

I was 7 when my family adopted Tess from a private owner in Woodinville, Washington. It was an extremely long drive that had us exhausted, but so very worth it when we received our very own puppy.

You might ask, how did we know which puppy to choose from out of the liter? Of course these puppies were all black Labs, but only one stood out to us as my dad knelt down to pet it--this one was our Tess, who had jumped into my dad's arms and started wagging her puppy tail.

At the time, I had a babysitter named Tess, who turned out to be my teacher's daughter (another story for a different day). I adored this human Tess and thought she brought over the yummiest soup on the planet. Therefore, in my all-wise 7 year old mind, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to name my pet after my funny babysitter. Tess, or "Tessie" as I call her, has remained my favorite pet and changed my life in substantial ways.

August 26th marked her 10th birthday, and yesterday we enjoyed our annual "dog party" for her with 8 or 9 of her best friends.

This is our friend Ivan. Believe me, he NEVER gets a break from those dogs. I am grateful to him and our other human friends that make time on Labor Day for our pup party.

A couple tips for hosting your own dog party:

• First and foremost: have it outside in a wide open space so the pals can roam free without feeing claustrophobic.
• Get or create a table for the human food, at least 6-7 feet tall, and make sure to set up a bee trap nearby in case the pesky yellow jackets pay a visit.
• Create little party favor "treat bags" (get the pun?) for the doggie guests, and keep them inside until the party's over.
• Make sure to set out enough chairs for all your human guests and set out big buckets filled with water for the canine buddies.
• Last but not least: don't forget an endless supply of treats, or you won't have happy campers!

Every summer, my parents and I like to take a trip to unwind and be one with nature (well, they do--I tag along for the campground experience). The past two years, my partner Mark has been joining us.

This year, we researched for campgrounds near Silverdale, Washington and came up with our first choice of Illahee State Park. You can't make reservations at Illahee ahead of time, and there is a total of 20 campsites available, so we were lucky to find a spot. Our camp neighbors were friendly and it was a fun experience.

I usually sit around, play card/board games and well, be bored. This year, I made it my biggest goal to cook each meal for our three-day camping adventure, and not only cook, but cook elaborate meals that would typically be prepared in a home.

I came up with this food itinerary:
Sunday Night Dinner - Baked Salmon with Artichoke and Dill.

Along with Baked Potatoes with Garlic.

Dessert all days - Chocolate Fondue and Fruit Skewers.

Monday Breakfast - Greek Yogurt with Honey and Nut Mixture.

Along with Traditional French Toast.

Monday Dinner - Garden Burgers made from scratch.

Tuesday Breakfast - Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs with Dill on Baguettes.

Of course for lunches we ate bagels, sandwiches and whatnot, but it was so exciting to experiment with such elaborate, yet easy recipes for my first time cooking in "the wild", as I like to call it (anything foreign from a computer screen is earth-shaking for me. Kidding).

The recipe book I snagged these ideas out of is a gem I discovered at Barnes & Noble called: The Camping Cookbook, which isn't released to have any particular author, but has a pretty modern look to it. To see full recipes and make them yourself, check out my channel and search for "Easy 'Gourmet' Camp Foods".

I love visiting Seattle! It's so full of life and sunlight. Here is a list of some of the most exciting attractions in Seattle.

LODGING:
The Maxwell Hotel
300 Roy Street
Seattle, WA 9810
A gorgeous, high-class hotel in the midst of a bustling city. Fresh cupcakes and tasty treats are complimentary for their guests, along with a friendly staff and retro art lining the walls. Read my review about The Maxwell.

The Mediterranean Inn

425 Queen Anne Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109-4517

A place for a coffee fanatic, city-lover to relax in a simple environment, The Mediterranean is one of the most raved about hotels in Seattle, and has a Starbucks cafe right besides it.


FOOD:
The Cheesecake Factory
700 Pike Street, Seattle
A delicious, top-rated restaurant nestled within the big factory of cheesecakes on Pike Street is a popular place for lunch and dinner for both residents and tourists.

Pacific Place Food Court
600 Pine St # 228, Seattle
One of the famous malls in the area has a pretty decent arrangement of food court stands and genres of food for both breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Pike Place Market
1531 Western Ave
Seattle, Washington 98101
A variety of cafes and delicious bakeries and seafood shops line the levels of the famous Pike Place Market.

Yanni's Greek Restaurant

7419 Greenwood Avenue
Seattle, WA 98103-5043

The best Greek restaurant in the city of Seattle, in my humble opinion. A family-run restaurant and lovely, cozy atmosphere makes for a perfect, romantic date or dinner with the large family.

Three Girls Bakery
1514 Pike Pl # 1, Seattle (located in Pike Place Market)
or
6209 15th Avenue Northwest, Seattle
The best bearclaw pastries on the planet, but again, this is just my humble opinion. Go ahead and taste for yourself!

Starbucks (by Pike Place Market)
1912 Pike Place, Seattle
The very first Starbucks (yes, ever) opened up on 2000 Western Avenue, and was relocated to 1912 Pike Place. The long line is worth the wait for a look inside the very first Starbucks and the friendly staff within.

Piroshky, Piroshky Bakery
1908 Pike Place
Seattle, WA 98101
Delicious Russian-styled savory and sweet treats that leave your mouth watering for more. * My recommendation is to try the Moscow roll and the sweet cream cheese berry vatrushka

ATTRACTIONS/SHOPS:

Pike Place Market
1531 Western Ave
Seattle, Washington 98101
Along with their delicious food items, there are crafty shops and local businesses with interesting finds for all ages.

Ride The Ducks
516 Broad Street
Seattle, WA 98109
Land and water tours of the greatest monumental landmarks within Seattle, Washington, including the lake house where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan filmed the famous "Sleepless in Seattle" scene and more.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
1400 East Prospect Street, Seattle
Rich in history and artifacts, the Seattle Asian Art Museum has everything an avid history lover would be curious about--paintings, statues and monuments and authentic calligraphy pieces. * Please note that this museum is peaceful, not extremely little-kid-friendly and is not hands-on.

ROSS Dress for Less
1418 3rd Ave # 100, Seattle
ROSS stores are around the country, but this elaborate Seattle store located on the bustling downtown city streets fills a bargain hunter's heart with glee, never failing to exceed the level set by other ROSS stores in Washington state.

Nordstrom Rack and others
1601 2nd Avenue, Seattle
Ever wish you could own designer brand clothing or shoes, but for much less? Nordstrom Rack takes items that didn't sell at their local Nordstrom's stores and prices them for cheap, bargain-y prices every day. Go browse along the rack, and don't forget to walk around in the area to find more deals downtown.

The Space Needle
203 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98109
The most famous landmark in Seattle, WA is the Space Needle, known for its rooftop cafe and observation deck. Take a trip at fast speed to the top of a beautiful monument that has shaped the hard workers in this city to living legends.

Key Arena
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109-4623
Home to some of the greatest shows and celebrity shindigs, not to mention sporting events, the Key Arena always has something to offer that is fun for the whole family.

The Experience Music Project (EMP)
325 5th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
This is where kids can have fun, let loose and enjoy themselves with their siblings, friends and parents. They can learn about all genres of music, create their own, even star in their own rock band at the Sound Lab. A favorite of mine since six or seven.

Pacific Science Center
200 Second Ave North
Seattle, WA 98109
A great arrangement of the most advanced scientific exhibits and displays can be found at the PSC, including the beautiful topical butterfly house.

As of today, September, 2nd, 2011, I am saying goodbye to some of my most beloved blog posts because of the intense viewing counts they were collecting and for seemingly not the most appropriate reasons, sometimes up to as much as 100 clicks or more per day. I want to honor one in particular--one of the most famous posts on UnstoppableKatya, that many of you popping by may be wondering about.

"Figure of Inspiration: Profile of Daria Grinkova" was a blog post explaining the young life of celebrity daughter Daria Grinkova who gained fame by skating in competitions and with her champion mother Ekaterina Gordeeva. Her father is the late and beloved Sergei Grinkov. This post highlighted the reasons I admired her and how she became a role model for many young teenagers.

After some deliberation, I decided to remove this blog post due to the rapid views it was gaining. A red flag is set off in my mind if one of my most popular posts involves a celebrity, specifically one that brings up many debates from the voices of their fans. I would rather gain my "blogging spotlight" from decent lifestyle posts about what I have gone through or figured out in my life than gain any more fame through Daria or her family. I don't believe that is right, and while all the information I shared was public and released by Daria or her family themselves, I'm not going to promote the fame of someone trying to lead a private life.

I create my montages and I share that "preserving the love" sentiment with other Katia fans--that is where the sentiment should and will remain from this day forward. Thank you so much for the support and views, but because this "Figure of Inspiration" mini-series was discontinued, I don't feel the need to keep this post up. Similarly, I also don't feel the need to keep a post up about someone who doesn't inspire me that much anymore. Daria changed as she grew older (duh! Don't we all!?) and our lifestyles are worlds apart. I've spent many days coming to peace with this over the past 6 months, and I respect and wish her the best in her endeavors.

My apologies remain intact to those of you looking for a good read on the topic you searched for, but this Figure of Inspiration blog post has been deleted along with a few others. It is time for a fresh start!

There's a bit of a change going on over here at UnstoppableKatya, so I figured if I crafted an easy, go-to guide for y'all, things might get a bit easier to navigate (as if it weren't easy already!).

I have a ton of friends, and of course, my parents, asking me: "Is there somewhere I can find all of your accounts and sites in one place?" Well, now there is, and I am planning to keep it that way.

Today, I released three new navigation choices (and updated one) up top on the navigation bar here at UnstoppableKatya.com, that will guide you to my social networking sites and more. I thought it would be handy to list these in bullet-list format.

• Tumblelog - A sequel to the main blog here at UnstoppableKatya.com, which can be found under the "Tumblelog" link on the navigation bar up top. This website URL is tumblr.unstoppablekatya.com. This is my "casual" Tumblr blog--if I find a image or quote I like, I'll post it there, along with things I don't feel are appropriate for my main zine.
  
• Montages - UPDATED! Instead of linking to a page that explains what my montages are, I'm linking to the direct montage site itself, readysetshinevideos.com. This "Montages" link includes timely updates of my montages instead of having to navigate my YouTube channel (some people prefer the channel so they can leave comments and favorite videos, at youtube.com/readysetshine).
  
• Vlogs - Remember this post? A few months back, I began creating personal videos of myself, sharing my latest shopping discoveries, favorite books and crafts, and emotional journeys I hadn't discussed here. Clicking on the "Vlogs" link will take you to that channel on YouTube, youtube.com/theunstoppablekatia.
  
• Twitter - Yep, I do tweet! Clicking on the "Twitter" link on the navigation bar will send you directly to my Twitter profile at twitter.com/katyadotcom. Don't forget to send me a tweet once you arrive @katyadotcom.

I typically hate smileys in blog posts, but I can't resist--I've reached nearly 15,000 views on UnstoppableKatya in the past 9 months, with the average of 100+ per day. A huuuuge thank you to my viewers! I know that's not a whole ton for such an intricate website, but I consider it an accomplishment for a gal in the Northwest, blogging about her humorous life :-)

If you haven't read Part One of this two-part post, please do not continue. I must release that I have permission when writing this post to disclose personal information about my partner and I's pasts.

I thought, another faux paus I should talk about that has been causing the most obvious roadblock for myself and my intimate relationship is the fact that I live such a different lifestyle than Mark's immediate family (who, I am blessed to have a healthy relationship with).

Both of our parents' parenting styles are looked down upon from different groups of people. Which you may choose to look down upon, reader, I don't know. I think both sets of parents have their curses and blessings, and both have done right for their own children. I'm here to bring criticism and gratitude to the surface, to sum up an issue affecting my life, advocating for close relationships between parents and their teens.

My parents have a very alternative way of parenting, not the norm you find in most Southern states and traditional, religious family backgrounds. For me, this worked. It certainly will not work for every kid, that's why I call it The Kathryn Parenting Style. My parents have techniques fully built upon the trust within our relationship. If I screwed up, I got a punishment (no TV for a few weeks, no sweets, no "playdates" with friends, etc). If I didn't listen or didn't do what I promised I would, I would be scolded. I was given a very large amount of freedom as soon as I hit my pre-teen years. Of course, at that point I couldn't have the boys I liked over, but I could go to stores alone and buy my own things--I was trusted to buy appropriate clothing, which taught me how to. I was taught how to get groceries as soon as I got a car (another way of them celebrating my freedom), giving me money management techniques, while still having my financial portion of life taken care of and provided for until I can find a steady job in College, due to this ever-changing American economy.

Mark's parents have a pretty traditional way of parenting, with a few better alterations to make their rules more modern. They like to set boundaries about the littler things before testing the waters, which I must admit, is the type of parent I may very well become in my future. Now, I'm no parent, but with my education in Soc and Psych, when I see a parent so worried about something that they can't explain their reasoning properly, it sends off a red flag in my mind that maybe they have a lowered trust level with this child and can't give them the freedom, because the parents feel they don't deserve it. This is the case with Mark, whether it's obvious or subconscious. He went through a rebellious phase, met all the wrong people and made some pretty bad choices. As for the financial aspect, Mark has had to work, as he says: "for every dime I've ever made". Of course, his parents provide food and shelter for him, and love, but not the extra things. This taught Mark the value of money early on. A positive difference between my parents and his.

I am talking so intimately about this matter, to the level that some might call intrusive, because my voice cares to make a difference in the lives of teenagers and parents. I feel this parenting situation in particular is something so common in our society and shouldn't be: The Age Factor. My parents never saw age, they saw how much they could believe me. Of course, they listened to the law and didn't let me get into trouble, but they set limits based upon my dignity and trustworthiness. Like I explained, this only works for Kathryn, because she has been so dormant regarding rebellion all her life--personal life choice. Mark's parents also never saw age, in the opposite way. No matter how many years progressed, Mark didn't get the free experiences I have been able to capture while I was younger. I've been with Mark for nearly 2 years now, known him for 11, and have always seen him moreso sheltered than myself, which again, isn't necessarily a bad thing, and Mark doesn't fret about it--it has merely affected both our lives since we began dating.

Here's an example of what I mean... Mark and I tried hard to pitch the idea of a 48 hour trip to Port Townsend, Washington, one of the days sleeping in lodging alone without parents, getting picked up the next morning. Keep in mind, Mark and I both don't engage in unprotected sex, drinking or drug usage, and both sets of our parents are aware of that. His parents declined the idea without much of an explanation, which I'm not going to beat to the ground, because I respect that was their choice. My parents liked the idea. They looked at it as a way for us young adults to be out on our own, living life and learning how to get our own groceries, transportation, setting boundaries in every-day life situations. Maybe Mark's parents weren't raised in such a way of having extreme freedom. My mom, on the other hand, experienced more freedom than any of us. Her mom, my grandmother, let her go to Scotland right out of high school with her partner. I know what you're thinking--she probably came back with police escort, or #3 on the way, right? Wrong. She learned how to manage herself in society and loved learning about her family's rich history. Put this into perspective: Mark and I were asking for a 2 day trip, not a 20 day trip.

Either way the cards decided to be dealt, what I couldn't seem get over was why Mark had less freedom than I did, when he was of legal age in the U.S. to do whatever the heck he wanted to without his parents' consent. Then, the thought struck me: until he moves out, and has his own steady job, his parents will set their own rules. I never realized that this entire time, my parents weren't just throwing around freedom without setting boundaries--they were looking in my best interest and well-being. They are two of the rare parents that are so in-tune with what their child needs, that they found a path that best works for their child. One day, Mark will look back while sorting through the goods and the bads within his childhood, and thank his parents for raising him the way they have. For whatever reasons they have behind their restrictions, I know the intention is a positive one. One I may never work with or understand, but will accept and learn to admire.

Mark has this tolerable personality, you see, one that makes it easier on his parents to get what they want from him. Yes, I am chuckling as I type this post. He lacks a strong backbone, has an automatic selflessness nature and wants everyone to be as happy as they can be, and is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for theirs (a trait at least one of his parents shares very strongly). A lot of my parents' guidelines stemmed from my personality and theirs growing up as well--freedom-thirsty, independent, blunt, and intolerant. While I physically rebelled the least, I emotionally rebelled the most. To this day, I am not pregnant, have not engaged in unprotected sex, have not taken a beer at a party, nor a cigarette, and am happy without touching an illegal substance. To this day, Mark is not engaging in any of the above, and supports me in my pure choices, making them his own. We have both changed a lot for each other, for the better. I love our parents for making us who we are--the two kids that fit so darn well together, regardless of their opposites.