January 2012
1 post
Mastercard Got It Rigth
New Salt (because I used all of mine)……………………………. $0.67
Flour……………………………………………………………………….. $2.37
Cream of...
December 2011
5 posts
Pinterest Meals, Day 2
Last night I made Baked Southwestern Eggrolls and our usual tacos.
First, they sound intimidating because of the whole eggroll concept, but they’re super easy.
This is all of the ingredients in my big red mixing bowl. I would definitely use a large-ish mixing bowl just so you can get everything incorporated well. I also toned the spicing down just a little in hopes of getting Kennedy...
Old Friends
Me and Talley, 1991 at Camp Sunshine
For some reason this is one of the few pictures I have of the two of us from childhood. This is strange for a number of reasons, but mostly because from the time we met in October of 1989 until we both headed off to college in the fall of 1999 we were inseparable. We weren’t neighbors or school friends, no I met Talley on the oncology floor at the...
BOWS!
For about a month I’ve been telling myself that I’d sit down and make the gift tags for our gifts. I’ve made them for the past two years and I’ve always liked to do that type of thing. I finally gave up and went out and got some today at Target.
Gifts are big for me. I really love spending the time and thinking about what someone would really love and appreciate....
Pinterest Meals, Day 1
Pinterest is my latest time suck. It makes Facebook look like nothing because you FEEL like you’re doing something when you’re on it. I’m SUPER crafty thanks to Pinterest, granted I haven’t attempted that many of the actual crafts (I did make Kennedy some matching Christmas pants and I have five days to get mine finished). I find awesome recipes, funnies and things that...
Making Memories
Lately I’ve been trying to stay in the moment when I’m with Kennedy. I’m trying to not think about the laundry or the dishes or what it is that I haven’t done yet. I’m trying to make memories with her.
I have some really great early memories of my Mom. I remember she would bring me a treat every afternoon when she would pick me up from daycare. It might...
November 2011
5 posts
No Middle Road
I knew this morning when I woke up that I would either have a happy story or a hilarious story to tell here. I knew this because it was either going to go really, really good or really, really, really bad. I was going to do something with Kennedy that I had DREAMED about doing since I found out I was pregnant. Heck, I’d probably dreamed about doing this since before I even knew I wanted...
I haven't been hiding...
Just writing…
I’m about 8000 words away from my NaNoWriMo goal. Which I’m afraid will encourage me to go all college-age-Kati and just chug out 8000 words of crap on Nov.29. But, I’m trying really hard not to do that. Even though I’m pretty sure about half of the words I’ve written thus far, are in fact crap. But, Nora Roberts says you can’t edit a...
30 Days of Thanks
I can’t commit to making a post for 30 days. I’m currently in the dregs of NaNoWriMo and trying to swim 2-3 times a week. The idea of putting one more daily thing on my list just overwhelms my feeble mind.
Instead, I thought I’d just blog some things that I’m thankful for periodically this month. I might hit 30, I might not.
So, in no particular order, things I’m...
A Civic Duty
For about a week now I’ve been preparing Kennedy to go with me to vote in our local elections. We talked about how she would have to stand with me and be quiet. We talked about how it was important that we always vote, in every election, no matter how small it is. I’m not sure that my 2.5 year old gets it, but it’s still important to start these conversations early.
So,...
A Hallo-Won't!
I’m only a week late on this post. Maybe it’s taken me a week to recover. Who know’s.
So, on the Friday before Halloween I went and met my Mom (and Gram and Great-Aunt) and had lunch before I kidnapped my Mom and brought her back here for what is now our annual Halloween weekend. We went straight to Jason’s office where Kennedy wowed everyone with her polite manners and...
October 2011
6 posts
Recipe!
Several folks have asked for the Cheesecake Nutella Bar recipe!
Yield: 16 squares 2 cups Oreo crumbs ½ stick unsalted butter, melted 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 2 eggs, at room temperature ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ + 1 tablespoon heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla (I eyeballed it) ¼ cup Nutella Directions Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8×8 baking dish and line with parchment...
Just Busy...
At church the other night I requested prayer because it’s October. This means that we will just be busy for the next, oh, gazillion weeks. Or so it feels. Now, it’s all fun busy stuff, but it’s busy stuff that keeps me from my normal routine and from things that typically get done, don’t.
Thankfully I have friends that help. Heather brought M over today and the kids...
Diva In Training
I remember when Kennedy was in the NICU her doctors joked that she was a bit of a diva. They could tell this hours after emerging from the womb. The same doctors joked when we were discharged that we would have our hands full with this one.
Now, I’ve been aware for a couple of weeks that Kennedy is a bit dramatic in her response to things. Especially if she doesn’t...
Ladies
Over the past few days I’ve been blessed with the company of some amazing ladies.
At dinner Saturday we happened to run into our awesome friends Anne, Brad and their two kids Ben and Sadie. Anne is one of my most favoritest people ever so the fact that we got to eat together was such a great way to end the afternoon. Ben and Kennedy love to play with each other and have encourage one...
Random Thoughts
It is just in the past week that I’ve stopped pre-washing my dishes. I’m always a little surprised when they turn out clean.
It NEVER fails that I will make some catastrophic mess immediately after my cleaning lady has left. For example, today after she left I was cooking dinner. We have a plant on top of the cabinet our oven is in and I decided to just move the trailing bits away...
Over the River and Through the Woods
Last week we did something we’ve never done before.
We left Kennedy for a weekend with her Me-Maw and headed to the beach.
I wasn’t nervous, Jason was fine, Kennedy certainly wasn’t nervous… I’m pretty sure Me-Maw was a LITTLE nervous. With reason since Kennedy hasn’t been away from me over night since sometime in July 2008.
Our normal six hour...
September 2011
8 posts
Oh Man
Today is a Monday in every sense of the word. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and when I finally just got so sick of myself I went downstairs, I realized that the leak that had been fixed in our upstairs shower had not indeed been fixed. This was evidenced due to the fact that the bread was now wet. All of this before I’d had my coffee.
Kennedy woke up in a great mood, ready...
Dancin' Machine
The other night we were over hanging out with our awesome friends, Lena, Emma and of course, their mom’s. Emma, who is in elementary school, was doing an awesome job of watching Kennedy and Lena and keeping them entertained. We were chatting on the front porch while the girls danced on the lanai.
Kennedy and Lena were doing this crazy dance that mostly involved them stomping their feet...
We had an awesome time at the beach. We swam in the ocean (well, Jason did), we played in the waves, we caught rays, splashed in the awesome pools and ate (and ate and ate).
I turned 31.
I got published at BlogHer.com (HUGE DEAL).
I was our local news fan of the day.
And I’ve stopped sleeping. Grrrr….
While we were at the beach I kept waking up due to strange anxiety dreams....
How to Make My Birthday MORE AWESOME
31 is pretty awesome.
A lot (and I’m serious, a lot) haven’t gotten to see their 30’s.
So, since it is my birthday go to
http://www.alexslemonade.org
Or
http://www.curingkidscancer.org
Or
http://www.rallyfoundation.org
And volunteer or make a donation. Tell them Kati sent you.
A Cancer Post
It’s September.
This month is significant for a lot of reasons.
My birthday is chief among them.
Kennedy officially becomes a 1/2 (as in 2 and a 1/2).
My Mom’s birthday.
And it’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
And you say to me, “Kati, childhood cancers have a survival rate of 80%, isn’t that good enough?” and I’m saying to you, “If it was...
August 2011
4 posts
Edited to Add
I went out today with Heather and got the fabric. First we went to one fabric storeto look at some canvas fabric. It was a little more than I wanted to spend. Let’s just say this fabric stores name rhymes with MoFran. So, we went to ANOTHER store where I found a better print for WAY less.
So, for 20.00 I now have a new table, chair AND covered the back of an old ugly bookcase.
New...
Work Space Frustration
It could also be titled Kati’s Writing Work In Progress Is Driving Her Crazy So She Rearranges Things.
I got a little irritated with the cramped quarters of my “office.” It’s in quotes because it’s really just a part of our guest bedroom. So… this is the before.
It was cramped and I wasn’t getting the most use out of my space. Plus, things had...
The Beginning
Lena, our sweet neighbor, came over to see Kennedy off.
Our summer has come to a close. I’m a little startled by my own sadness about this. I was worried at the start of the summer what we would do. I’d gotten spoiled by the luxury of having a few hours each week to go and run all of those errands that are best done without my toddler. But, having her home has been awesome....
I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated. We’ve been enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer enjoying pool time and playdates. Kennedy goes back to school next week. She’s still only going Tues/Thursdays and I plan on using the time to finish reorganizing the closets and my final edits on The Never Ending Manuscript.
We’ve had a really great time lately....
July 2011
7 posts
Chattanooga Choo-Choo
We took our first family vacation a little over a week ago. It’s taken me this long to recover from it (sorta).
As you know, Kennedy is slightly obsessed with trains. So when planning our vacation I decided it would be fun to go to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and to stay in one of their train cars. We got to the hotel before our room was ready, when I’d made our plans I’d...
Ears Lowered
Back in the spring I cut off Kennedy’s baby mullet.
About a week ago I decided I really needed to get her hair actually trimmed. She had these bangs that just kept hanging in her eyes and she wouldn’t wear a barrette to keep the out of her eyes. So, I called upon my AMAZING stylist, Anitra at Salon Lotus. I’ve been seeing her for years and she keeps me young and hip. She...
This morning was super busy and super fun.
We went to one of the new splash pads that have popped up around our city. They are awesome (if only they had a little more shade, because it’s HOT). Then our good friends Heather and Micah came over for lunch. Our kids ask for each other frequently and I happen to enjoy Heather’s company, so it was handy for all of us. I was also...
new Blog!
I’ve got a new blog!
It’s not parenting related or anything.
I’ve been writing fiction for YEARS and YEARS. Now, I’m starting to get a little more serious in my writing. Follow my new blog Wants To Write to see what I’m up to in the writing process. I’ll also talk about what I’m reading and what I think about the writing world in general.
kittyduckling asked: Have you thought about one of the child 'leashes' for your toddler?
i did some damage to my mom's spine when I was born and she couldn't lift me after a certain point without risking serious harm to her back. She got one of the leashes and I was a 'magical pony who pulled mommy along the way'. She said without it, I would've run off at every shiny...
i did some damage to my mom's spine when I was born and she couldn't lift me after a certain point without risking serious harm to her back. She got one of the leashes and I was a 'magical pony who pulled mommy along the way'. She said without it, I would've run off at every shiny...
Epic
Lots of things have happened recently in our world. And I want to write about them, but I have to do this now. I have to write about this now because it is all still so fresh and important and a little overwhelming at the moment.
I was able to see the final installment of the Harry Potter series today.
I know, you think this is silly.
To me, it is not.
Harry Potter has been with me since the...
Family
In the past two months we’ve visited both sides of the family. Kennedy has been inundated by relatives. Some of them she was more excited to see than others (Sorry Grandma, not sure what it is about you).
While we were with Jason’s family we showed Kennedy something that Jason has been DYING to show her since she first showed an interest in trains.
Sarah, Kennedy and Hannah...
June 2011
5 posts
When Closets Attack
This time last year we were moving into this house. I’d used that time to purge lots and lots of stuff from our house. But, this past week the clutter has just become unbearable. I hit the junk drawer and laundry room yesterday. I tossed TWO BAGS of trash just out of those areas.
Today while I was making the bed it hit me. I cannot let Jason live out of the current state of his...
Who Knew?
I am having fits of reorganization in my house. I spent yesterday cleaning out my laundry room and junk drawer. It was really, really exciting for me.
So, today I got hit with the major desire to re-organize Jason’s closet. The poor guy has been living in this tiny space and I don’t think he can find anything but whatever is on top. To really do this efficiently I needed to...
New Thoughts About Food
It’s not news to anyone who reads my blog that Kennedy is not a huge fan of food. It’s not that she’s picky, it’s just that she doesn’t eat. She’s busy and obviously just not hungry.
Her doctors aren’t concerned with her weight because the fact is she is growing. I’ve never pushed the whole eating thing because I don’t want it to be a...
An Open Letter
Dear Day Care Worker Who Was Escorting Children at the YMCA Pool,
I know that you have several kids that you are watching. I know that you feel like (and quite possibly) are underpaid. I know that it is a hassle waiting on a small handful of children of varying ages to shower/change to get ready. I also see that you have a group that you are re-diapering and changing. I see all of this.
But,...
Smarts
My kid has some smarts.
Earlier this week I bought Kennedy’s not-real-brother Micah a birthday present. Micah turning three is a huge event (read his mom’s blog and you’ll see why) and I wanted to make sure I got the right gift. Of course these two are so much alike that I just had to go to Target and think, “Hm, what would Kennedy want?” So, I easily found...
May 2011
5 posts
Nearly 25 Years Ago
Almost a quarter of a century ago I was still groggy from surgery. I have vague memories from this day.
I remember playing a pretty cruel trick of my Aunt Brenda (who had to work that morning) by hiding in the bathroom and my family telling her they’d already taken me to surgery. We’d watched her storm across the parking lot and we knew she was HOT about having to work even part...
The End of an Era
First Day of School, 2010/2011Last Day of School, 2010/2011
My Sweet Kennedy,
Thursday was your last day of school for the “school” year. I put this in quotes because you’re going to be going to a few weeks of summer camp this summer and probably won’t really notice the blip in our now established routine. Sure, you are just moving up from being in the one/twos class...
Just Keep Swimming... Just Keep Swimming...
About three weeks ago I woke up with a horribly wrenched back. I could barely breathe without it hurting me. I hadn’t been to the YMCA at that point in a few weeks and I knew that I desperately needed to get back to it. So, instead of rowing to my hearts content and then cursing while using the strength training machines I hit the pool for laps.
I hadn’t hit the pool in almost...
David Letterman Eat Your Heart Out
A couple of days ago on Facebook I made the comment that I can’t balance my laptop on my lap… that whole half a lap thing.
A couple of my friends commented on the pluses of having one leg, which I know there are many. So, I put together a little top ten list (thanks to Kristie)…
In no particular order…
Top Ten Reasons It’s Awesome To Have One Leg
1. Half...
Things I Really Love Right Now...
Here’s a list of things that are making me happy…
I got a new broom vacuum for the downstairs (most of the downstairs is hardwoods) and it is awesome. Trying to finagle a broom and a dustpan when you have one leg and two crutches, that’s just too much. So, the broom vac is an awesome addition to my household (and the fact that cat hair is sucked up so easily).
Vacuuming...
April 2011
6 posts
Easter
This past weekend was Easter. It was the first time in two years that we didn’t get up at 3 AM to make sunrise service at my families church. Instead we celebrated at our own church with our church family here. It was really a great service and a fantastic day filled with MeMe’s (M&M’s), cadburry cream eggs and hunting for eggs.
This was my Easter Dress nearly 30...
Blerg
It has been a tumultuous week here in the South. On Wednesday there were some really serious storms and tornadoes that ripped through the South East and did some pretty serious damage.
On Thursday I woke up with a serious case of the grumpypants. I was ill for still not sleeping great despite the fact that we got a brand new awesome bed. I was grumbly as I made lunches for my family to...
Hair!
Kennedy has had a little mullet action going on for a few months now. I just couldn’t bring myself to trim it. For the most part her hair still has baby curls all over the back and bottom. I was scared that if I cut it then those curls would fall out. And they probably will when I actually cut it instead of just trimming it. I’m still not really sure what the actual texture of it...
Embarrassing
Y’all I’m embarrassed.
I don’t even want to write this out because I’m so mortified by this.
But, for the sake of blogging here we go…
Friday at playgroup (WAHOO! FLAMINGO PARTY) I noticed that Kennedy was unusually clingy and felt rather warm. When we got home I took her temp and it was hovering in the 101 range. I thought it was strange since...