I'm Kayleigh and welcome to my little corner of the blog-o-sphere. I currently reside in Slidell, Louisiana, about 30 minutes from The Big Easy with my boyfriend, Ian and 3 furbabies {cats}, Bella, Bug and Lily. Being a military brat I grew up in Louisiana, California and Nevada, but being the daughter of an Oregonian and a Canadian I have been quiet a few places growing up. I graduated from the University of New Orleans in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and am currently working as a recovery analyst/scheduler in the IT world during the day and blogging by night. When not working I usually spend time with family and friends, spend time decorating and fixing up my condo, or writing for the blog. I also tend to have a {little} shopping problem when bored so I needed something to channel my so-called addiction into, therefore creating The Gotta Have It Girl. In other words, writing about things instead of actually buying most of those things {if that makes any sense at all}. After reading blogs by others I decided I didn't want to just blog about fashion and home decor, I also wanted to include other passions of mine such as cooking and art. So my blog has become a variety of topics that I love and are passionate about.
I will try to update my blog 5 days a week, but if not I truly apologize in advance. Life gets in the way some times and you can't control it! I hope you will enjoy my daily ramblings, because like my mother used to say "You always loved to talk as a child" and when I get on a roll, I get on a roll! Happy reading!
I love all furbabies, especially cats. Can you tell? I have three.//I love to drink Naked orange juice and any kind of grapefruit juice.//My favorite color is green. If you walked into my home you would think I was crazy!//I love Halloween and scary movies. My favorite scary movie is the original Halloween.//I love reading blogs and Apartment Therapy. I check the blogs I follow everyday and pretty much stalk AT.//I love to shop at Banana Republic. My entire closet is really nothing but this brand.//I love to eat Japanese and Mediterranean food, especially sushi and hummus with pitas. Yum!//I love all paper products like journals and wrapping paper. I have this in common with my good friend, Paige, and we talk about how crazy we are all the time.//I love to go to the beach, particularly Pensacola and Destin. I was born in Pensacola so I pretty much was born to be a beach bum.//I love Seattle and the Northwest, especially the weather.//I love the rain. People don't understand how much I love the rain. I could live with it everyday and be so happy.//I played soccer in college on scholarship.//I love polka dots.
Bella, a.k.a Queen Bee: We adopted her in March of 2009 when she was 5 months old. She rules the house and is a big mommy's girl. Anywhere I go she goes and she sleeps with me most nights curled up next to me like a big ball of fur. She is always getting into trouble and loves to meow away all night.
Bug, a.k.a Mr. Meow Meow: We adopted him in July of 2009 when he was 15 weeks old. He whines for attention all of the time and is a big baby, suckling on his daddy's earlobe every night. He reminds me of a rag doll because you can do absolutely anything to him and he'll just sit there and take it. He is ruled by his older sis and younger sis at the moment and enjoys every bit of it.
Lily, a.k.a Pookie Poo: We adopted her in November of 2010 when she was 9 weeks old. She is absolutely adorable and has a little attitude that is too cute for words. She's very tiny and petite for her age and I think she'll stay that way. She likes to battle it out with her big sis and rule her big brother, but she loves them. She has become quite the chatter box lately, taking after her older siblings.
Is it hard being a blogger?
At times it can be considering your writing for a group of people (which includes a lot of people you may never meet or know personally) and not just for yourself. No matter what you will always get criticized by someone who disagrees with you or is just out to be spiteful. You really have to let things like that go, which is easier said than done, unfortunately. I get really nervous sometimes when I get a message saying 'comment for your review' because you never know what somebody is going to say. Luckily, I have had nothing but positive and sweet comments from readers, but I'm sure one day down the road I will get a negative one and that's okay. Also, from what I hear, since I am somewhat still new to the blogging community, and what I have observed, it takes awhile to develop a following. Its not going to happen overnight, but for right now I am blogging for fun and am not going to get too worried about it because not everyone is going to enjoy what I have to say half the time and thats okay too.
Do you do anything else besides blog?
Yes, right now I work as Scheduler/Recovery Analyst during the day on a Government Contract and I blog when I am not working. I also have started creating some fun artwork and hope to start up a little shop on Etsy very soon. Life sometimes gets in the way and so I try to prioritize and get things done, but its hard when you work full time and blog. I wish I could do this full time, but for now its a fun little part time gig. My hat goes off to so many of my fellow bloggers who can do it all! It's not easy!
How do you get candidates for your Artsy Tuesday posts?
I usually find them on Etsy. There is nothing like featuring an artist you love, but at the same time helping them out a bit by trying to somewhat promote them in a way. I am not paid to do this, I just love the rewarded feeling of somewhat helping someone and at the same time sharing with you all some fabulous work! I do, however talk to the artist and get permission before I feature them. If you want to be featured though please feel free to email me at anytime.
Are you ever going to share your home with your readers?
Yes, I promise! I recently got a new Canon Rebel T4i and I can't wait to start playing with it and snapping photos as we continue to fix up our condo. Should be sometime in the near future.
Do you ever worry people will copy you and your content?
To be honest I think copying is some strange way of flattering a person. I just ask that you don't use my photos or content in any negative way. I also ask that you please not copy anyone's artwork that I feature until you ask them and get their permission.
Who inspires your fashion style and where do you shop?
Right now my fashion style is kind of all over the place. At this point I'd like to think of myself as a simple dresser meets pops of quirkiness when it comes to my style, if that makes any sense at all. I love to wear dresses now more than ever paired with tights or leggings and a pair of flats mostly because its easy and comfortable. I love to shop at Banana Republic, Piperlime, Gap, JCrew, and Bloomingdales (I am not rich I shop the cheaper side of the site). I am the poster child for Banana Republic at the moment. It is my current favorite store.
Why do you have so many cats? Are you the crazy cat lady?
Why do you have so many cats? Are you the crazy cat lady?
I swear I get this question asked all of the time. I have three of the most wonderful loveable kitties in the world, Bella, Bug and Lily (you can see them on my furbabies page), and I really wouldn't have it any other way. All were adopted from our local spca. I adore cats and I love how sweet they are. My cats are literally my children. They sleep with my boyfriend and I every night, they follow us everywhere in our home, and they even talk to us A LOT (in kitty language of course).
Do you ever plan to leave the New Orleans area?
I really hope so, but not anytime soon. My boyfriend and I really like the Pacific Northwest so that would be my first choice, but picking up and moving cross country would be very daunting so we'll see. I love New Orleans and somewhat grew up here, but its not somewhere I can see myself living forever. I feel by living here your in this bubble that will never pop. People live too much in the past here. There is also very limited opportunity and its crazy hot. I've decided I need some snow or at least colder weather in my life.
More to come as I get asked or think of a question I can address...