My Life

Kat’s Closet – Weekend Edition.

How the heck is Monday here already? How the heck is September a couple of days away? How the heck was your weekend?

A little work and a little play was the salad tossed. A lot of dancing and a lot of living was the meal of choice.

After ‘that’s a wrap’ was yelled on set, Friday brought all of my favourite people into one place. My brother and his band The Lad Classic took the stage at Cherry Cola’s. My roomie and I woke up the next day with the words ‘well, that was an unexpected good, good night!’ Alot of black, skinny jeans, vintage band tees, cons, bangles, military boots and jackets, tattoos and hipster dudes. A whole lot of Queen West.

Tank- Boutique on Melrose Ave. LA.
Pants- H&M (Pleather capped knees)
Hat- Big It Up
Shoes- Aldo (Living in these this summer)
Lipstick- Costa Chic- MAC

After ‘that’s a wrap’ was yelled on set, Saturday brought my roomie and I home for a major pillow crash as the week caught up to us. With hair and make-up done from a burlesque inspired shoot that afternoon, we ventured to a happy house-warming evening. A backyard in the city is a rare find. But a grand one. An evening under the stars. I’m ready for a week of the same. -k

Shirt- Skirt 
Shorts- Vintage
Shoes- G.H Bass & Co.
Lipstick- Lady Danger- MAC

It’s all about the ABC’S.

I hung up my dance shoes about a year ago to put focus on the microphone because of new opportunities handed to me. The way life sorts itself out in front of your feet is always an interesting sight. And now over these past few months I have been back on the dance floor because of new opportunities. It’s where I started this journey and I need it in my life.

I spent the entire week on set for a project for The Weeknd’s new tour with some incredible women who I admire for their confidence, style and grace. The dance scene knocks at your pride with a daily dose of judgement as you work towards perfection, not only in the steps and style but in the silhouette seen through the lens. The measurements and muscle. The inches fading up and out. Blunt? Absolutely. Reality? Like you wouldn’t believe. Here and there I get asked how I approach this glamour game and it’s been buzzing quite a bit this week. And it brings me back to something I wrote the last time it sing-songed in the air around me…

It’s all about the ABC’s…

February. The month of the groundhog and cupid. The cold nips at your heels and you hit snooze fourteen times before you run to the heat of the shower in the AM. You eat two out of three of your meals in the dark and they probably consist of comfort foods like Mom’s killer macaroni and cheese recipe from your childhood. It’s winter, folks! And the only ones smart enough to hide from the elements are the bears.

I won’t lie. I’ve been in hibernation mode for the past four days. I made it as far as loading new songs onto my iPod in hopes it would give me a motivational kick in the butt to boogie over to the gym. But the -25C windchill puffed out its chest and won. I drank my hot chocolate and marshmallows, ignored that tick of guilt and quietly hummed the winter blues.

Happily adding more marshmallows to my cup of cocoa, I clicked over to Facebook. Raptors lose unlucky 13, storm brews harder in the GTA and a message. Hey Katherine. 

A blast from the past. A former student. Now taller than me, a fiercer dancer than me, pursuing that “I want to dance forever” dream she used to talk about in tap class. And getting hit hard by the reality of the business. After a certain point it’s the complete package that clears that next hurdle. It’s what they see when you walk into that audition room that counts.

“What’s your motivation? What’s your secret? What gets your body in the game when your mind says no and vice versa?”

My heart sinks a bit every time the ‘reality of the biz’ swims past me. But it is reality. An evil shark sized reality. And it’s something you need to accept when you decide to follow your dream. That was my first step. So I typed back ACCEPTANCE.

The night before two friends and I were having dinner and over our spinach dip and chips the same topic came up at the table. I’m not perfect. I drink too much coffee and don’t get my eight glasses of water everyday. I eat Doritos when I’m sad and ice cream when I’m happy. And I walk confidently onto that basketball court in a Raptors splashed half top because I now know the meaning of BALANCE. But it took me four years in the professional world, three years in theatre school and many ups and downs to figure it out. Listen to your body, don’t deprive yourself because life is too good for that and on those low days remember how great you feel in spirit when you take care of you.

I was cleaning out my closet and I found an old journal from my theatre school days and splashed across the first page was the saying “CONFIDENCE is beautiful”. It’s not something that is easy to find and hold on to tightly when you’re knocked down daily for your artistic imperfections. And it comes with growth. But when I started believing in myself (I’m at about 94.7% of the time) I started pursuing and conquering bigger hills.

Everybody does it differently. Acceptance, Balance and Confidence. I figured out my equation and I work on my ABC’S. The ‘S’ is for SUPPORT. I told her she has mine. -k

Kat’s Closet – Flats and Hats.

Spontaneity. A favourite word and action of mine. The unexpected next day race or chase. The familiarity of something unfamiliar. Throwing a dart at a map. A different daily dance. Living in the moment and doing what you want to do. Right there. Right when the clock strikes now.

This week has been a blur of all of the things I love in regards to work. From the TV studio to social media hangouts, a self made rehearsal space and a warehouse set in dusty dance shoes. I can’t really imagine it any other way. I’m tired and my feet hurt and I would have loved to successfully find the treasure chest with the key that unlocks a few more hours to each 24 hour day. I didn’t want to be greedy so flats and hats were the go-to to speed up the time clock.

I snuck out for a little balance after my eyes started blurring words on the computer screen into run on sentences and sat with good people on a patio on College Street. Balance is my other favourite word. It’s so important. So balance it was! A la flats and hats. -k
Dress- H&M
Boots- Steve Madden
Hat- The Muskoka Store

Mic check.

Ten seconds to you, Kat… looking across at the camera in section 108… let’s hope the crowd reacts… if not, just improvise… good luck… 

Let’s throw down a little truth to start this late night ditty. I have a hard time swallowing the fact that I have advice to give from professional experiences because I still feel like a kid in a candy store hoarding every ounce of advice I hear in my beat up notebook. I feel blessed everyday and I am proud of every blister and scar on my head and my heart that has led me here.

Today I joined some talented troops in a Google+ hangout to talk about our little gigs as hosts with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Four teams, three faces, searching for the final fix. The position of in-arena host for the Toronto Marlies is being filled this week and we were able to take questions from the hopefuls and drop our two cents from living life on the mic.

I learned a lot listening to my co-hosts in crime. This is how I see it in point form (right off the notes I scribbled on an empty envelope while brainstorming pre chat) and what I keep in mind when I hear ‘Over to you Kat in 3, 2…’ …

  • A host is a reflection of everyone’s hard work towards the moment at hand. You are just delivering the final product.
  • Preparation. Observation. Dedication. Prepare for the unthinkable (research!), observe your surroundings and dedicate your everything to the words coming out of your mouth and what you’re representing.
  • Be professional, know your stuff and work your butt off.
  • Be yourself and trust it. It should be like a conversation with your friends hanging out on a friday night. No artificial passport. Your massive, warm personality already got you here. Be in the moment.
  • Coffee is great. Really great. I’m thankful for the ladies at Tim Horton’s that have mine ready every halftime.
  • It’s not always about you. Make the subject look it’s best.
  • Expect the unexpected. Live hits are scary and an absolute high. I’m reinforcing preparation here. And know your boundaries in respect to content.
  • Practice makes perfect. I’m the girl talking to herself in the corner before a timeout at a game. You can never be practiced out but at the same time little gaps of spontaneity sometimes lead to the best magic.
  • Always leave the scene of the crime with a positive vibe even if the team is down or the contestant just lost the contest. The vibe should never go anywhere but up throughout the night. Like that mountain climber from the Price is Right.
  • Live it. Breathe it. Love it. Or else you’re in the wrong place.

Never stop learning. There’s always bigger and better. And please, enjoy the moment. -k

Don’t mistake activity with achievement. – John Wooden

There are two kinds of perfect: 
The one you can never achieve, and the other, by just being yourself. – Lauren King

Talent in cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. – Stephen King

Kat’s Closet- Weekend Edition.

I’ve been slapping the “staycation” card on the table all summer. And it’s been winning me major good times. And so as the summer glow fizzles a little more each day I’m for sure as heck taking advantage of the last hoorah.

Enter this weekend.

It was maybe the new moon, my broadway bound insomnia or that bad tuna salad I ate friday afternoon that put me a little left of center this weekend. I painted my toenails black. And I was in a carefree state of mind and rambled together whatever the heck jumped out of my closet at me with twenty minutes to dress to impress. Or not impress. I was not out to impress. A black and white palate was the tone of taste. Bright anything was not guiding me through my milky way.

Friday I met new people. Amazing people. Sauntered down Queen West to the Savoy and Beaconsfield and Brooklyn. Let the good times roll in a rock and roll soul inspired ensemble. This KISS tshirt started as a tshirt seven years ago. I cut a hole in the neck three years ago because it was fraying. I cut the sleeves off a few weeks ago. It’s tattered and torn and I can’t get enough. Threw a sheer black dress over lace shorts and went with some dressy heels for shits and giggles. Rockstar on the top, girly on the bottom. Just a whole lot of me.

Shirt- Some vintage store on Queen West that’s not there anymore. Time flies.
Dress – Same as above.
Lace Shorts- Urban Outfitters
Shoes- Marc Fisher
Jacket- Danier
Purse- Zara
Lipstick- Costa Chic- MAC

Saturday I spent the day at the zoo. Decided that all animals are spanish because at 3pm they were all siesta-ing when we arrived and we were looking for action. I got home in need of a siesta from the sun and had birthday shenanigans to attend at a dive bar on Dundas. Danced to the best 80s jams ever. Let go. Loved life.

Tshirt- Sauce Hockey
Varsity Jacket- Forever 21. Shocking, eh?
Pants- H&M
Heels- Aldo
Purse- Urban Outfitters
Glasses- Vendor in Soho NYC

Put yourself in a zone of magic. Nobody is here long enough to do it any other way. And I hope you had a magical weekend too. -k

WDYDWYD.

Do you remember that moment that probably fell somewhere between walking out the doors of the place that sucked up your soul for three or four years with textbooks and sleepless nights and the daily search for a critically acclaimed perfection… and walking into your place exhausted after a month or two or a year now immersed in the reality of your diploma? That moment where a loud question flies high above your head dragged by a plane. Destination: Your future. Question: Why do you do what you do?

I sat in a planning meeting yesterday, brainstorming ideas for the new basketball season which in reality will be here in no time. I was both stoked and inspired to bring fans that much closer to their team. And previous to the meeting I was in the studio shooting links for a TV feature reminiscing on the team community highlights from last season. Remembering the moments that answered the above question. Why do you do what you do?

The following is a ramble I wrote sometime last fall and it reminded me of my answer…

I am so tired it hurts. I missed out on the average 20 somethings friday and saturday night out because I had a late night work date with my laptop. It’s 7:30 pm after a 10 hour day and I’m in bed with a headache and a beer…doing more work…

And it doesn’t bother me one bit because…

Making people even an ounce happier voids all the assumed negatives. And this is why I’m more than thankful to do this daily in my ‘job’. I don’t like the term job. Living your passion is something I wish everyone would chase. Because it’s possible.

Yesterday morning when I was up before the average 20 something on a weekend, sipping my endless coffee and cursing the speed of my internet, a friend messaged me saying that he ran into a couple and their son in the city. They spent ten minutes thanking us for making their son happy by bringing him closer to the sport and team he loves through what we do. 

Today a grown man the size of the average hockey player hugged me at center ice and cried. It was his sons fifth birthday and he had been raising him for 4.5 years alone. I had just taken him to meet one of the players and he signed the jersey off of his back for the birthday boy. And I’ll never forget it.

I’m unsure and unsettled about a lot of things in life; the direction my career is going, the instability of my bank account and where my heart lies. But for years one thing I have known is that when you’re happy, I’m happy. And that’s what keeps me ticking. -k

I googled “WDYDWYD” and these photos came up. They’re dope…
WDYDWYD