1. Go into the bathroom. Do it. Right now. Well, read this first and then do it. Bypass the toilets…ignore the slightly foul odor and look into the mirror. Now say “Katie Bower is thankful for you. And you rock her world”. Seriously. You guys made me so happy. I was nervous about the whole Nate Berkus thing – I mean, nobody wants to be a fool in front of millions of people and you guys made me feel at ease about seeing myself on television. You are right…I am my worst critic. Aren’t we all? I mean, all of us except for those dillusional folks that try out for American Idol. If only I lived with their insanity confidence. And I read all of your comments. Every single one several times. You guys cracked me up. The whole arm holding thing makes me laugh out loud now solely because of your ability to make a gesture that screams “ok katie stop talking and let me host my own dang show” and turn it into hilariousness.
2. I said goodbye to my 20’s on Saturday morning. It’s kinda strange to think of myself as a thirty year old…so I don’t. I am still a twenty-year old who just happened to have been on earth for 30 years. Simple as that. It’s not denial. It’s just a fact.
My celebration isn’t over though… apparently my party got pushed back so this coming Saturday I will be (and I quote) “playing polo in bumper cars”. Jeremy set it up…sounds like a blast…but isn’t it always fun to ram your friends with a motorized vehicle?
3. I was thrilled to get a family photo on my birthday. If that was my only present, I would have been happy as a clam.
4. I was equally as happy to get a photo snapped of me and my boyfriend and these two folks. That’s two of my siblings – Nornie and Tim. Some of you may call him Hottie Tim. And yes, I would like to auction a date with him off one day.
5. A highlight of my weekend was meeting little Henry. My friend, Avery gave birth to this wee bundle of perfectness a little ahead of schedule…which is fine by me because I couldn’t wait to meet him. I love his crazy hair. It’s like what Kevin Paves tries to do on celebrities…except Henry’s is totally naturally awesome.
6. Yesterday was my first official newborn shoot as Katie Bower Photography. Very, very exciting. And even though we had a little late start, Miss Brinley was a doll face and I loved each minute of our time together. And yes, her eyes are divine 🙂
7. Okay. So my team lost. The AGONY! But that doesn’t mean that we didn’t party like champions. My sister made the Steelers cake…she’s officially the coolest girl I know.
8. I watch my nephew Cole on Wednesdays. Will is obsessed with him. I love that. I would also love it if Cole gained about ten pounds of pure muscle so that he could carry Will around because then I could lay around and watch daytime television and eat boxes of chocolate without having to get up. Okay…okay…so I don’t get up now…but it would cut down on the needless interuptions. Hello According to Jim.
9. Some of you asked about the modeling thing. Yes. It’s embarrassing. Like close my eyes and shake my head and pretend it didn’t happen kind of embarrassing. Most of my stuff was for a portfolio….because I really only liked to bridal model. It was runway stuff…but even runway models need photos. I was tempted to pull a move straight from the Real Housewives handbook and forget the whole thing ever happened, but I’d rather you see it here than find it while googling. So yeah, here she blows…and please, let’s keep the laughter to a minimum.
and because I know that you want to see some crazy bridal show photos – here’s a blast from my past. My favorite is the first one…in the red dress…mostly because it still makes me gag a little thinking about that gosh-awful poopie doo that the hair lady did on top of my head. And yes…to ‘fix it’, she stuck some random butterflies in there. Because random floral butterflies make every hair style better.
10. I got several presents for the big 3-0. One of them was this ring. Isn’t it just lovely? I picked it out in an antique store and my mom bought it for me. I rock at picking out things I like. Seriously. I do. And at $15 I would have bought it myself. I will always think of it as my thirtieth ring. Thanks mom. I also got some other items…Will gave me the gift of walking. Yes. He walks now. Not for far…but my little Friar Tuck can travel on his feet up to six feet unassisted. There is video…but that’s for another day.
So that was my weekend….how was yours? Any Packer fans wanna rub it in some more? Okay good then let’s keep it to ourselves. Anyone get jewelry for a birthday? Anyone else have an embarrassing past job that they care to share? How bout new babies in the bunch? Or perhaps you just have something random to tell me…I’d love to hear it.
p.s. Just in case you missed my segment on television…after Nate’s outtro, before the commercial break, you basically see Nate kiss me. Yeah. True Fact. Let’s just make sure I get credit for turning him back to the other team…mmkay?!
Can I just say that I never have wanted a baby more than when I look at pictures of Will? Seriously, you did a good job making that little cutie pie.
And Happy Birthday!
Happy (1st Anniversary of your 29th) Birthday!
You’re the funniest person in my blogosphere. OMG. Last little punch line. If I were allowed to LOL at work, I would. I think your 30th year is going to be the YEAR OF KATIE BOWER!
ps- You’re beautiful! Wowsers! My hubby is no longer allowed to look at your blog. 😉
Wow, that is SUCH a great pic of you & Jeramy (at least it looks like him) in the bottle right corner… you know, in the teal & white. Was that modeling? Or just a nice event you attended?
Happy Belated Birthday! Can I be the first to put in a vote for May to include a short hair style. You look great in the white shirt and dress pics with short hair.
I am so excited that you were on The Nate Show! Your little segment was really cute. 🙂
I also LOVE your thirtieth ring! Thanks for giving me a new obsession, I’ll be on the hunt for one like that for a loooong time!
Lists are my favorite so I especially enjoyed this post!!
I thought you said you were going to the superbowl?? I must have totally read that wrong or something….
Oh wait a second. I think you meant “The Steelers” are going to the super bowl!! Haha I feel really smart right about now. =)
I love that cowboy picture! You’re totally rocking those boots. And congrats on the Nate Berkus show, how wonderful to be featured!
Happy Birthday! I haven’t decided if I’m going to celebrate my 30th birthday this year or the first anniversary of my 29th. It’s a tough call.
LOVE the ring! My hubby got me a sweet little Tiffany aquamarine ring for my 30th last year and I just adore it. Happy Birthday!
P.S. 30 is a great age! I’m upset I’ll be 31 in a month, I’m going to miss 30! 😉
THANK YOU for continuing with your blog and being yourself. You always make me laugh and it’s such a kick reading your post. It’s the highlight of my day, the icing on the cake until I get home to my little girl that is.
Best of luck on your photography. If you were closer I’d hire you to take family portraits. Let me know if you’re going to be in the NYC area again, we’ll schedule something. 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday!!!
i hope you have a fantastic 29th +1 Year!!!
Can I just say….you are simply gorgeous! I mean, we all knew that before…but those modeling pics! Embrace it, Girl!!
LOVED the Nate segment….you are so stinkin’ cute! (In fact, you make me wish I had a cute southern accent!!)
Happy Belated Birthday!!
That looks like such a great weekend! I loved your segment too! So fun to watch!
That ring is beautiful – what a great find! You have a good eye, it makes me want to antique/bargain shop more.
Also you are stunning- and not just the modeling pics -very gorgeous 20 something!=)
That martini one makes me giggle though! When I look at it I picture you saying “I said shaken, NOT stirred!”
happy 30th!
and i LOVE that ring!!!
Ooooo hello Tim 😉
On a more serious note, I received an alexandrite ring that used to be my grandmothers for a college graduation present. It’s chunky and pretty and I love it!
So 30 is definitely the new 20 this is what my friends and I totally believe. Also ummm that RING is GORGEOUS and HOW did you get it for $15? Where is this antique store I need to go there…immediately! Congratulations on your first shoot! What a week you are having!
First off, I have been following your blog for some time and I LOVE IT! My baby boy is 11 months old today. It is so fun to see your little guy. Your family is too precious. Second off, we canceled our cable– so without DVR, I made sure to watch you on Nate! It was so fun!
happy birthday! i liked this nice little update on your life! 🙂 your baby photos are amazing. i think my sister signed up for one of your sessions in april so i’m totally excited to see the results!
and i assume you are doing whirly ball? my office went there in december as our holiday party – and i was convinced it was going to be terrible. but it was actually so.much.fun. i got excited in spite of myself and rammed a few coworkers. you will like it!
yep. your bro definately shoulda been snagged by now..
This was an awesome list. I’m sorry about the whole Steelers thing . . . I’m a Bears fan so pretty much my 2 favorite teams are the Bears and anyone playing against the Packers. That one hurt. Anyway, welcome to your 30s. I’ve been celebrating m 26th birthday for the last 5 years . . . it totally works for me. 😉
Well that was quite a weekend! Happy, happy birthday! I turn 30 in 61 days, I know how you feel. On one hand, I too feel like a 20 year old in a 30 year old’s body… on the other hand, my life has screamed… “I’m 30!” for some time now. I’m trying to not think about the big day.
Pics are gorgeous! Don’t let anyone EVER tell you differently. And so is that ring! The martini picture cracks me up… definitely Bond girl material!
P.S. – sorry about the Steelers losing! Gotta admit, it was a great super bowl to watch!
Happy Birthday!!! I love everything about this post. Steelers, babies, blue eyes, etc.
Also, please feel free to send Hottie Tim to Houston!!! I’ve always thought he was adorable. I will cook and clean for him. And, we, as sisters-in-law, can bond over photography any time! 🙂
Happy Birthday! You have made start saying that I will forever be 26 🙂 If it helps, you don’t look 30, you look more like 23-24. Also, I love your pictures, the one with the martini makes me think of Audrey Hepburn. Good luck with the photography biz!
You are just too cool for school, little one. I swear, you are a breath of fresh air!
You are so young and lovely – I’m going to be 40 this year and haven’t started therapy yet.
You make a beautiful model! I think you should do it again 🙂
That last line was hilarious!!
Oh…and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
You turned 30 on Saturday! I just turned 30 on Monday the 7th!!!
Happy Birthday to us!! 🙂
Happy birthday, Katie, welcome to the 30’s. It’s really nice here, I’m glad you’re joining us. xoxo
Oh my gosh! Will is WALKING?! Tell that boy to stop growing up so dang fast!
Love the ring, love the modeling shots (as always), love the family pictures and those cakes look delicious!!
Polo in bumper cars sounds AMAZING!! (And also like something my husband would think of!)
Shut the front door! Those modeling pics are fabulous. But wait – why are you exercising in Crocs?!
You are beautiful and funny and your life sounds like fun!
You’re 29.95 plus tax and tip! Happy Birthday!
That photo of you with the black gloves, pearls, and drink? I’ve totally seen that else where! I can’t remember where now, of course (poop), but I swear I’ve seen it.
LOVE the ring! Will is so CUTE!
I’ve used it on the blog before – as a joke. That’s probably where you saw it 🙂
Hopefully.
xo – kb
Isn’t that funny? Actually they aren’t Crocs…this was in the pre-Croc era. And the shoot was supposed to be fitness closeups…plus the wardrobe folks thought I had a size 6 shoe…um no. How many 5’7″ girls wear a size 6? I know of none…but maybe I just know big footed girls.
xo – kb
hahaha I just want to say THANK YOU KATIE BOWER. You brighten my day and make me laugh, and I am forever grateful! Happy Birthday, your such a special gift of God to so many people 🙂
loved you on nate! and that ring is beautiful!
Oooooh it just dawned on me that one reason you are such a good photographer is that you get and are able to pose people so their pictures look good. You’ve been on the other side of the camera — your modeling is paying off, KB!
My son also got jewelry for his February 5th birthday. It says “Class of 2011”. This homeschool mama is counting the days to her big, fat, paycheck … highschool graduation!
you are hilarious! and beautiful! and just a delight! Are you like that in real life? I hope so. The world needs more bow-bow-pow! Probably better than boom boom pow for sure!
So you’ve hit your 30’s! I’ve got a few more days left of being 29… (I turn 30 on the 23rd.) Oh and I also did the bridal modeling though only for one show (just enough to say I modeled lol). Great pics. 🙂
p.s. I just saw you have “One Thousand Gifts” on your wishlist. Get it! I’m reading it right now and it’s a GREAT book.
Ha, I love your take on not being 30. I’m going to steal that in another year or so. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Oh and I LOVE that ring.
I worked at Coldstone Creamery in high school. You know, the place where the employees have to sing every time you leave a tip. It was a new store so the owners were really strict about the singing. And there was always that one annoying teenage customer who would tip a dime or a penny intentionally just so we would be forced to sing. Then they’d sit there and laugh at us with their friends. Talk about embarrassing!! I lasted all of two months there 🙂
Katie, did you see Fever Pitch, with Drew Barrymore, you aren’t 30, you are twenty-ten!!! I’m still trying to get away with it, twenty- twenty six, what do you think? Thirty-sixteen? Thirty nine-seven?
Happy Birthday, love the ring and you think you were busy before Will started walking…..Oh Lordy look out now!!!
You are too much, and I mean that in the best way possible! Old photos never cease to crack me up. You are lucky that yours are modeling photos. I was wondering if that was you in the picture you posted with your Nate Berkus update…looks like it was!
I’m a Pitt grad, so I was also rooting for the Steelers. I think having that amazing cake to eat during the game would have made the outcome a little easier to take. Looks delish!
Happy birthday to you!
I heart you. Love to read your posts ’cause they make me smile. And 30 is pretty awesome, really. I’ll be 38 this year and while seeing that number in print makes me laugh out loud I know that I’m still the same 15 year old inside but now I can drive and stay out past curfew!
Ok, so I’m a little late to the Nate Berkus comment party, but seriously, you were great. And you are your own worst critic for sure. You were adorable, and the arm hold made me laugh out loud. So glad you had a great 3-0, love seeing photos of your sweet family.
I’m not usually in the habit of making random comments about myself, but since you invited me to do so: My baby boy turned two weeks old last Friday, I had a great weekend falling even more in love with him and my husband, and our photog got our newborn shoot (from 6 days old) up yesterday. The photos are wonderful and I’m so pleased. I think it’s awesome that you are providing this kind of treasure for your clients! Your work is beautiful. I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time now (late 2008, maybe), and it’s really been fun to watch your photo skills grow. I found you via YHL, back when it was TYH, and for the longest time, yours and Sherry’s were the only two blogs I read. Then you both had babies and my baby fever reached new heights. You bring cheer to my days, I enjoy every post, and regularly share your bacon jokes with my husband. Your sweet nature shows through at every turn, and it’s clear that it comes from above. You are a joy, Katie Bower. Just thought you might like to know!
I’m officially obsessed with your vintage ring. I will now hunt high and low at every vintage store in a 100 mile radius for something even similar. It’s so beautiful. I wish it were mine.
Martini glass modeling pic=priceless
Were you “smizing” a la Tyra Banks? 🙂
Happy 30th!
Not gonna lie! You are one hot mama! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve commented before but I love your blog! I passed it along to my mom too, who also enjoys it.
I love your blog BUT I DIDN’T like you on the Nate Show….. didn’t seem like yourself. You didn’t even really answer the questions he was asking.. OH WELL.. next time.
Is your boyfriend a model too? Ah-mazing
This is exactly what I was going to say! 🙂 Every year I celebrate my 29th anniversary. I will actually be celebrating my 8th (29th) anniversary in two weeks. Which equals 37, blech. I hope mine is as great as yours was.
Happy Happy Birthday !!…I crossed over to the 30’s a couple of yrs ago!…don’t worry, you’ll get used to it..and you’ll even eventually wear it with pride 🙂
I just refuse to believe you’re 30. No way. You’re like AT MOST 25. Happy Birthday, anyway! And you were so sweet on the Nate show. I don’t think there is anyone more genuine than you!
What a hot mama! You are a rockstar! Happy Birthday, you are rising to the top and accomplishing so much. You inspire me : )
you are going to have so much fun! I play that game “polo in bumper cars” the last time i was in Atl and it is a blast! omg i’m so jealous
Do you see him on the end there? Yeah. There was a last minute need for males…and well, he got to step in. I loved it 🙂
xo – kb
Katie,
You are such a doll! Seein you in that video from the NB show was so awesome! Your accent is the most adorable and wonderful thing! I am a sucker for the Southern Accent! I want one! 🙂 Instead I am stuck with the “Southern Utah” accent – whatever that is. 🙂
Speakin of accents… Do you watch the Bachelor? I do, and I tell you what, I adore that Emily. I think she’s classy and cute and mature and of course, her accent! I could hire her as a … narrator just to hear her sweet voice all day. Same goes for you.
I still want you to come to Southern Utah this summer to photograph me and the man. Hey, you could visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and of course the Grand Canyon! And Vegas! 😉
XOXXOX
Sheena
Katie- you crack me up. Sooo I didn’t know Nate Berkus was gay until your last statement. I know, I know. My husband has been arguing with me for weeks and I’m like, “oh no, Nate is not gay.” I had this secret TV crush that I wasn’t willing to give up. So now my dreams are dashed…for me..and for you…since he did grab your arm and all. 😉
And, we have a 12 month old baby so I love reading your blog…your family is going through so many of the things we are… 🙂 But as someone posted earlier, now that you’re showing all these hot modeling pics of yourself, I’m going to have to not let my hubby see all your pretty pics. 🙂
Your photography is amazing and I only wished you lived closer to Ohio…but you’d have to keep the Steelers gab to a minimum around the hubs (jk).
Have a great day! I’m always eager to read your posts!
The cake! It’s the curse of the cake! Every Superbowl party I’ve been to where there has been a team cake, that team has lost!! Including MY team last year…that darn Colts cake. PS Um, your modeling pics are GORGEOUS!
My mother still claims she’s 29. I’m going to be 27 in August if that gives you any indication of how old SHE is. But remember- you’re only as old as you feel! Happy Birthday!
Will is TOO CUTE. That picture of him and Cole made me smile. I’m so sad that the Steelers gave up that game so easily. My dad said they “snatched defeat from the jaws of victory” which made me laugh. I just decided that they never actually showed up for the game. 🙂 I loved the modeling pictures- you were a beautiful model! And your brother definitely should have been snatched up by now. Would he be willing to come to Louisville, KY?
Happy birthday Katie!
I used to say I was 29 a, 29b, 29c, etc. Now I say I am 22 with 18 years experience!
On a different subject.. the Steelers. We love em here. Anyway my 14 y/o was in line at the mall(wearing his Steelers hat) and some guy around 35ish? walks by, twice with his newly purchased GB shirt that he was holding across his chest. The guy was totally trying to rub it in my poor kids face.. if the guy didn’t look so totally pathetic trying to rub in the Steelers loss to my boy…. I might have been more offended. We all just laughed. Because it was THAT pathetic.
Those modeling pics are hilarious, yet you still manage to look like a Princess!
You have a lovely mother, that ring is gorgeous!