Of Baseball Bliss and Wedding Bells

Well, it looks like I'm not the only one who's an utterly incurably sappy romantic and not too shy about admitting it! As a wedding magazine writer for several years now, I thought I'd heard all the most creative wedding proposal stories, but nope...

Turns out the entire Kansas City Royals baseball stadium of fans helped a (very brave, in my opinion!) soldier propose to his special gal today! Aren't they cute?! Having attended one of the Royals' fun games with my dear hubby many years ago, (his friend gave us third row seats as a gift, bless his heart!), all I can say to the great Royals team is..."Way to go KC Royals fans for cheering them on!"

I have a special place in my heart for our military families who so valiantly serve our country while being away from their loved ones, so I sincerely wish you, sweet young "KC Royals couple"...a fabulous wedding and a "winning" life together!

And speaking of "Royal Weddings"... since you (never) asked...well of course I got up at 3 am to watch Prince William and his lovely Princess Kate marry on TV, and then of course I felt the need to "blog poetic" about their gala event and its deeper meaning in life for all of us. Plus my hubby of nearly 31 years just asked me if I wanted him to buy me the CD of their wedding he saw at Costco, God love him.

This all just goes to show, of course, that even in a world filled with strife, war, and sometimes tough stuff where ya gotta be brave...

Love still "wins" out over all!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

The All-White Bed

Last year when I turned my master bedroom above into my all-white cozy confection I had no idea that Pottery Barn has a penchant for the all-white bed too. So much so, that they now have a video on their website featuring Steven Whitehead, a "bed stylist" who for years has been styling beds for photo shoots. He shows some compelling reasons in their video why having an all-white bed is...easy, breezy, and dreamy! And I totally agree with him...and I'm off now to sleep on my own big white fluffy...um..."bed cloud!"

Sweet dreams, my friends! :)

Kathryn
Kathryn Bechen INK

Vegan-ish Cuisine

For a variety of complex reasons, I've decided to attempt an all-organic vegan diet.  So far, I've been enjoying it greatly, and feeling good too, since March 11, 2011. 

I plan on researching more recipes and showing the dishes here on my lifestyle blog, so I hope you'll enjoy my vegan-ish escapades along with me...

I mean, when organic celery, when cut, looks like a beautiful flower, how can we go wrong?

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

Wishes for a San Diego Bay Style Day!

Wishing you a "San Diego Bay style" kind of day!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

Master Bedroom Makeover Magic!

Magazine cover and article posted with permission of

San Diego Style Weddings magazine

If your master bedroom decor has you feeling a little tired and blue....here's my latest home decor article to help you freshen it up to a sea blue hue!

Enjoy!

Kathryn :)

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

Wishing great Mothers everywhere a blessed Mother's Day!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

Life "Wisdom-isms" From the Royal Wedding

With all the hullabaloo winding down now after the Royal Wedding (RW) of our beloved Prince William and Catherine Middleton, as a wedding magazine writer for several years, I've had time to reflect on what the RW gave to all of us in the realm of life wisdom so I thought I'd share my thoughts:

1. We all need a good fairytale sometimes to escape from life's harsh realities. My friend whose husband has been on an arduous cancer journey the past two years shared with me that watching the RW gave her a happy respite for just an hour or two. The beauty, the ceremonious everything, and the love were healing to her spirit. (God bless you, my brave friends.)

2. Traditions and ritual are comforting and give us a sense of stability. To witness a new generation walk down the same long cathedral aisle as so many of their ancestors have done through the ages gives us a sense that we're part of a larger scheme of things in life and that life will indeed, go on.

3. It's good to break with tradition sometimes and shake things up a bit. Disco balls at Buckingham Palace, you say?! Well young genteel royals are entitled to have lighthearted dancing fun just like the rest of us, don't you think?

4. We need beautiful language for our souls. Personally, as an Episcopalian Christian whose American church has its roots in the Church of England, I've long been enamored with our beautiful liturgy through words and the RW was the epitome. Indeed, to me there's poetry in motion in old-fashioned phrases like "mystical union" and "first miracle that he wrought" and "pureness of living." (Kleenex sigh.)

5. Families come in all shapes and sizes and that's okay. The Royal Family is definitely an interesting potpourri of personalities. Just like most of ours, right?!

6. Weddings can tighten your own marital bond. My hubby of nearly 31 years, Steve, teased me that I was willing to get up at 3 a.m. just to watch "the kids" get married live. Then he set the alarm, turned on the TV, and snuggled down in beside me under the covers, holding hands, to watch with me. (And guess who's talked almost non-stop about the big shin-dig ever since? You guessed it!)

7. Uniqueness makes us beautiful. One of my favorite quotes in the RW ceremony was by St. Catherine of Siena who said, "Be who God made you to be and you will set the world on fire." Amen.

8. Our younger generation is our hope for the future. Kate and Wills are handsome, beautiful, kind, thoughtful, generous, and care about our planet. We should be proud to have them as our fellow citizens on God's green earth. (Wills invited a former homeless woman to his wedding; he is indeed his (charitable) mother's son. We miss you, Princess Diana.)

May the beauty, love, and hope of the RW, a symbol to graciously usher in a new generation, be held in all of our (incurably romantic) hearts forever.

Love, Kathryn :)

Kathryn Bechen Ink

LaJolla Secret Garden Tour Time!

It's nearly time for one of my favorite San Diego County events--the LaJolla Secret Garden Tour! So whether you're hankering for a picnic in a glorious garden, exquisite views of the beautiful blue of the Pacific Ocean, or great indoor decorating ideas from gorgeous seaside homes, you can buy the tickets here. My hubby Steve and I have attended for several years and thoroughly enjoyed every minute!

Enjoy!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen Ink

Happy May!

It was a glorious day at the beach in San Diego today. Hope you had a beautiful Sunday, wherever you experienced it!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen Ink