Cassie Bustamante

living an ordinary life extraordinarily

Navigation
  • home
  • about me
  • home tour
  • project gallery
  • shop my home
  • Let’s Collaborate

Koala Love and Other Awkwardness

June 24, 2015 by Cassie 42 Comments

Pin
Share
Tweet
0 Shares

Do you guys remember your “awkward phase?”  We all went through it, except for that random lucky girl who scathed through life always beautiful and graceful.  You know who you are.  I was not that girl.  Not even close.  And I think my awkward stage went from age 6 through age 25, so maybe a little longer than your average.  Maybe I am still actually in it and I happily unaware.

As a tweenager, I was happily unaware at the prime of my awkward stage.  A few weeks ago I traveled to Massachusetts and reminisced with one of my best friends whose sister had just unearthed the proof and I wanted to share it with you.  Before you take a look, I want to give you vital background information.

In 7th grade, our class took a trip to Sharon, MA to a campsite and stayed in cabins for a week of bonding and team building.  We were going to be in the woods and getting dirty, so were told to bring clothes we could get dirty.  I understood that to be “clothes you don’t like” and packed clothes I would never otherwise wear, not even caring about what the boys in my class might thing.  Big mistake.  Because I packed this sweatshirt with attached collar my grandmother had given me….

koala shirt

Yes, it’s a bunch of cute cuddly koalas in a tree.  But that doesn’t even cover it with what is going on in this photo…. I had a perm, complete with permed bangs, and braces.  We all thought this counselor was pretty hot, so naturally we all wanted photos with him… I am sure he was thinking I was just as hot.

The good news is that I’ve grown up and out of it and ended up nabbing someone even hotter than that counselor, and he would love me even if I were to pull that sweatshirt out from the archives and wear it.  Because he doesn’t judge me.

2J8A8534Photo by Jalapeno Photography

Why am I sharing all of this with you?  Well it was refreshing to see these old photos (oh, yes, photos… there were more….), and it’s been on my mind a bit with a book I am reading (more to come on that later).  I want to pass lessons on to my own kids, and I also want to open my heart to you, my readers, in hopes that maybe it helps you out.  And if nothing else, you are at least laughing at these photos.  But know you are laughing with me!

IMG_1645

(This was 8th grade so my perm was growing out, but windbreakers were totally in).

My kids have already started the orthodontics journey, and if they are in fact our children, they are bound to go through an awkward phase.  Chris and I were not the lucky immune.  Actually, if you google “awkward phase” there is a good chance you’d come up with our photos.

2J8A8562

Photo by Jalapeno Photography

I want Sawyer and Emmy to see my awkwardness in all of its glory and know that they are not alone.  Chris and I have been there and we understand the pain, the braces, the glasses (me), the late development, and the feeling of just not being “cool” enough.  But looking back on these photos, I am so glad that I did have my awkward phase because it was character building at its finest and taught me about friendship and what truly are the important things in life.  I learned that true beauty is not found on the exterior; it’s found in the heart and soul.

I want me kids to also learn to dig deep beneath the surface, look into the eyes of another human being and see all the beauty that lies there.

2J8A8518Photo by Jalapeno Photography

And beyond that, something that is even harder to achieve, I want them to continue to look at their own reflection and see their own beauty and sweetness looking back at them.  I don’t want them to see the braces, and acne, and glasses, perm (just kidding, I will never let that happen!), but see what I see when I look at them into the goodness of the beating heart beneath the skin’s surface.

2J8A8513Photo by Jalapeno Photography

We are moving into the double digits this summer as Sawyer will be turning 10.  The road ahead of us has many teachable moments along the way, and I am armed with awkward photos galore to make those moments honest, open, and also laughable.

And thanks to Jalapeno Photography for capturing me now, as a grown woman who didn’t wear her retainer and has teeth that are imperfect, still is a little goofy and awkward, but owning it.  I wave my dork flag high in the air!

2J8A8532

And now, just for fun, I wanted to prove that the cute, cuddly tree-hugging bears from down under could be pretty chic, too.  Just not on a sweatshirt.

(Sources linked below each photo.)

koala3Triangle Koala Print

koala4

Koala Mug

koala6Wooden Koala Necklace

koala7

A Koala Shirt I Would Rock (Because a koala riding a bicycle)

And just in case any of you have an ugly sweatshirt party coming up any time soon, or you need a koala sweatshirt like mine, I found you this little gem.  It doesn’t appear to have the attached collar, but you could always sew your own on.  DIY, anyone?

koala2And with that, I will leave you!  Go out there and wave your dork flag, embrace your awkwardness, and see the beauty that lies within.

Related

Pin
Share
Tweet
0 Shares

Filed Under: Me

Subscribe for Email Updates!

« DIY Vintage Globe Succulent Planter
Thrift Score Thursday: An Amazing Dresser »

Comments

  1. Kirby says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:07 am

    my awkward phase lasted 55 years (so far), but for the past 25 of them I have owned it! PS–I still wear my retainer at night.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      haha! yes, i think mine is still going on, too. and darn proud!

      Reply
  2. Fiona, Lilyfield Life says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:14 am

    Hilarious old photos Cassie (and gorgeous ones now of you and your family). I’m Australian and we had a pet kangaroo but I never owned a koala jumper 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      thank you! you need a koala jumper obviously.

      Reply
  3. [email protected] this top that says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:34 am

    oh, i love this in all it’s dorkiness. you are a beautiful soul who is and will impart great things on your children. and they will know that despite the surface level stuff that we see around us , it’s who they are that is what is most important.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      thank you, laura.

      Reply
  4. Vidya @Whats Ur Home Story says

    June 24, 2015 at 9:17 am

    Loved this post Cassie. 🙂 One more reason I love to call you my friend. 🙂 If it is any comfort my awkward stage started pretty early on too but thankfully didn’t last as long as yours. 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      ha! thanks!

      Reply
  5. Wendy Johnson says

    June 24, 2015 at 9:52 am

    you are a good looking family. Both your kids are darling. Too young to tell what they will look like but son has gorgeous eyes and daughter is just plain pretty. I don’t see awkward yet . Still good lessons for all of us

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      oh we aren’t there yet, but i mean one day we will be. 😉 and thank you!

      Reply
  6. Laurie at Laurie Jones Home says

    June 24, 2015 at 10:58 am

    Yea I had an awful shirt growing up too, mine was a giraffe and a baby giraffe and if that wasn’t enough it was given to me in front of my whole family by my grandma who thought it was so funny, you see the mama giraffe’s head traveled up the sweater and it appeared to be looking down my shirt! For a girl who was just starting to “develop” I was mortified! Your post today was terrific and so true, that awkward phase is tough, it was tough going through it but trust me it’s tougher watching your kids go through it, because with the awkward phase friends change sometimes and feelings get hurt. I finally feel like now that Sloan will be a senior this year most of the drama is behind us. I’m soaking in all the sweet time with Cooper now where his only world is his family! Your family photos are beautiful (I love your dress) and again thanks for opening up to us!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      i do not look forward to them going through it at all, but i just want to be like, hey guys, check out what mom looked like… surely that will help! 😉

      Reply
  7. Catherine says

    June 24, 2015 at 11:41 am

    That counselor…SWOON.
    Your awkward pictures are too funny. Emmy and Sawyer are so lucky to have a mom eager to impart this kind of wisdom and it sounds like they are growing up to be sweet, caring people. Your family photos are so beautiful (and so not awkward!).

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      haha! thank you so much, and right? he was hot.

      Reply
  8. Gretchen says

    June 24, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    I can’t believe you found the same sweatshirt! That sweatshirt is amazing. I love all the stuff you said here, too…..but I’m just so distracted by that sweatshirt that I can’t process it all right now.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:24 pm

      you need that sweatshirt.

      Reply
  9. Kristin @ bliss-athome.com says

    June 24, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    You’re the cutest Cassie 🙂 My awkward phase was soooo funny too! My mom styled my hair for me every morning when I was 8…it was late 80’s so it was a lot of hairspray! This was such a fun post! xo

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:23 pm

      haha! my mom did mine, too but it never stayed. i don’t think that perm helped. 😉

      Reply
  10. Sage @ Plaster&Disaster says

    June 24, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    Love this post!

    P.S. I’m headed out for an overnight relay race this weekend, thought you would appreciate 🙂 This one is a trail run, so rather than driving in vans we camp and then each take turns running three different trails. So here’s to avoiding sprained ankles, wild animals, and/or escaped prisoners at 3am!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:22 pm

      oh yay! a friend of mine did one like that and loved it! good luck!

      Reply
  11. Haley says

    June 24, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    That first picture is the BEST!!! My mom and sister love to refer to my awkward phase and laugh their heads off.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:22 pm

      oh man! well i hope you laugh with them. i mean, i know i laugh at mine!

      Reply
  12. Krystine www.KrystineEdwards.com/blog says

    June 24, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    This was so cute, I loved every second of it! I was beyond awkward, big bangs, jersey style, braces, the list goes on. But ya know I love seeing those pics, they make me laugh and bring back some good memories & make me laugh how I thought it would be the end of the world and I would never get past it. But you do and I want my boys to understand the same and see past that like you do your children!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:22 pm

      haha! that is awesome! thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Rita says

    June 24, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    love this post and gosh did it bring back memories. I was all the boys “friend” because I looked too much like a boy to be their girlfriend. Thanks mom and your “I’m going to be a beautician” stage. She hacked all my hair off…So maybe I need to thank her instead for leading me in the direction of the love of my life! One will never know haha!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:40 pm

      you are hilarious!!!

      Reply
  14. Kathy says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:57 am

    We could have been twins (actually triplets, bc I have a twin!). I totally had a koala shirt, perm, and braces (add in glasses). Being homeschooled for 10 years did not improve my awkwardness either. lol Funny thing is, I didn’t have a sense of fashion or style until I was in the Army. Loved reading this. Brings back warm, fuzzy memories. xoxo

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:40 pm

      HAHA! i am dying! that is so awesome. 🙂 it’s all character building, my friend.

      Reply
  15. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    June 25, 2015 at 8:37 am

    Oh how I love this post! I was SO awkward for way longer than I should have been. I recently had my old yearbooks out for Izzy. I asked her if she could find me on the pages thinking that since I looked so crazy awkward she wouldn’t be able to find me. To my horror she pointed me out every time 😀

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:39 pm

      i am still awkward and it’s fine by me! and i am sure my kids could pick me out, too, but they’d think i was pretty anyhow. 🙂

      Reply
  16. [email protected] says

    June 26, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    Oh, I totally rocked the perm, too. I was channeling Little Orphan Annie.

    Loved this post – you are beautiful inside and out.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:35 pm

      i don’t know what on earth i was channeling. and likewise, my friend!

      Reply
  17. Eddie says

    June 27, 2015 at 7:33 am

    Cassie, one of my most profound moments in college was reading an author who wrote she never truly loved her mother until she (the author) could love herself through her mother’s eyes. Growing in love, humility and self-confidence are the most amazing gifts to give our children, and you do it while embodying style and grace! … Oh, and that navy collumn dress?? Guiltless!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      thank you so much for those words, and i love that thought!!!

      Reply
  18. Eddie says

    June 27, 2015 at 7:39 am

    Okay, that (see above) is supposed to read “…guuurl!” Dumb autocorrect! #awkward

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:31 pm

      haha! this post is full of awkward so it is perfect.

      Reply
  19. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    June 29, 2015 at 10:25 am

    That was such a great post, Cassie. Thank you for writing these pieces from your heart!! Your kiddos are so adorable and you are teaching them how to be considerate of others, I admire your thoughtful parenting of them so much.
    My munchkins are almost 17, 15 and 13 so yeah, I know all about this topic (plus I am 44 and still going through the awkward phase!!) When we were in our twenties my friends and I came to realize that it was the guys that had the “splash of dorkiness” that were the kindest, the ones who were a little more sensitive. The splash of dorkiness became such a desirable trait, to this day I still admire that characteristic in my husband, it makes him so lovable and real.
    And can we talk about you with your koala sweatshirt and perm with the cute camp counselor? SOOOOOOOOO cute and awesome!!!!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 30, 2015 at 5:28 pm

      haha! i think you mean nerdy and awkward, but thank you! 😉 and yes you are sooooo right!

      Reply
  20. [email protected] says

    July 5, 2015 at 12:27 am

    Aw, I love this post Cassie! I have been so behind with catching up on my blog reading. I’m so glad I didn’t miss this! I’m pretty sure my awkward phase can hold its own with the best of them too 😉

    Also, I love that the koala sweatshirt at the end says “Montana.” Because I always associate those two things, don’t you? 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:15 pm

      oh i know! i thought that about the sweatshirt, too!!! ha!

      Reply
  21. Amber @ Wills Casa says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    Awesome!! I love you so much Cassie!! You are beautiful inside and out! I bet you were still as much fun during those awkward years as you are now!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      July 12, 2015 at 8:19 pm

      aaaaw, thank you so much and right back at you! i was fun…. totally. i was a big nerd, but i was a total goof and always tried to make people laugh.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Rss Bloglovin

Categories

Disclaimer

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission. This blog uses affiliate links.

Connect

Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

Recent Posts

Privacy

© 2022 · Foodie Theme Customized by This Bold Girl · Built on the Genesis Framework