meet Kate

Meet Kate, she is the creative spirit behind Clear the Way - her blog featuring a daily dose of a little bit of everything. Kate and I met through the blogosphere and decided to get to know each other a little better through a blog swap interview. Here's the scoop...

Tell me about yourself...
I am Kate and although I don't read into horoscopes, I am pretty much a Gemini.  I have no commitment issues and I'm not flaky, I'm just a bit all-over-the-place and I've got a finger in every pie.  I like to say "I am Vegan by choice and Gluten-Free by consequence."  I collect instruments (mostly cheesy gadgety ones from the 80s) but my go-to is guitar...  I am a singer/songwriter/poet.  I talk often and my writing usually involves many etceteras, ellipses, and parentheses.  I am almost-endlessly compassionate and fiercely passionate.  I love anything art, and thus I love fashion.

How did your blog get started?
This might be embarrassing to say, but I really needed to put a cap on my endless internet browsing.  I wanted to have one focus for each day and fulfill that day's quota without over-searching my favorite blogs, fashion sites, on-line catalogs, eBay/etsy, etc.  I am glad I did because my internet-time has been much more fulfilling and I have found that I genuinely love blogging.

What are you most likely to be doing on a typical Saturday afternoon?
I'd like to say something cute here, like "Oh, I read a lot" or "Most Saturdays I do something really productive," but at this point in my life:  I put off doing my college work and eat potato chips.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from everything, really.  It can be a bit overwhelming because inspiration really is a force, but I love to be all-inclusive and I love a good challenge.  My current inspiration for everything (fashion, friendships, etc.) is very abstract.  That would be: "Seeking after what others flee."  This is a line from a song of mine which encourages me to pursue the things our society defies: honesty (no make-up), tenderness (bare collar bones), etc.  To me, this is true bravery.

How would you define your style?
Let's just be honest, most people would call my style "Hipster" and I suppose they might be right.  Though, I feel Urban Outfitters is the definition of "ALMOST-cute" and I hate American Apparel so very much.  I would define my style as "Pleasantly Refined, Classic Kate" or something to that affect.  I love Earth tones with some dark purples, vintage or vintage-inspired, and I'm most comfortable in sundresses.

Some quick notes:

I cannot live without... support from a community of carers, my spirituality, or Star Wars Episodes IV-VI.

My favorite time of day is... 1:08 because that's my favorite number.

I can't wait to... begin my professional careers: Kindergarten Teacher and (later) Gender Studies Professor.

The most important thing in life is... to be known.

I'm happiest when... I have helped others discover something about themselves that is novel and fruitful.

Thank you so much to Lauren for kicking off the Blogger Interviews over at http://cleartheway.wordpress.com 
If anyone would like to contact me, you can at:  clearthewayblog@gmail.com

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saturday exploring

One of my favorite things to do is to explore around the city- trying new places and finding new local favorites. This past weekend Max and I wandered all around downtown Birmingham taking in all the sights and sounds and discovering all kinds of great places. Regardless of how embarrassed Max may have been, I continued to snap pictures of our adventure capturing the unique character of birmingham and a fun Saturday afternoon together.

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"you are beautiful"

Graffiti, despite its negative connotation, is an art form.; it's intricate colors and details take a high level of skill and when done out of creativity rather than vandalization can be incredibly beautiful. What if this beautiful art actually had a beautiful message? "You are Beautiful" is the message and idea that is slowly spreading around the Birmingham area and has been seen in unexpected places around various cities. My boyfriend Max pointed out the big pink letters across and old abandoned white building reading "You Are Beautiful!", and then told me about the project and stories he had heard about this spreading around local cities. Originally written months before, the message had been painted over with white paint, but after showing up again a few weeks later, they decided to leave it.


"You Are Beautiful is a simple, powerful statement which is incorporated into the over absorption of mass media and lifestyles that are wrapped in consumer culture.The intention behind this project is to reach beyond ourselves as individuals to make a difference by creating moments of positive self realization. We're just attempting to make the world a little better."

 You are Beautiful, and so is this idea. Learn more at You Are Beautiful.com and pass it on.

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