Not Me!

Good things come to those who wait. I have no idea who said that, but whoever it was, he or she was right on. I worked hard this past week at my job, and finally, before I knew it, Friday had arrived. I worked right up until 5 pm, offered a "Merry Christmas" to my boss, and flew out of there as soon as I could. Finally... Christmas break! It was a great feeling.

I blinked, and suddenly it was Saturday. and then Sunday. The church service at Friendship Baptist was great; awesome music, uplifting sermon, Christmas carols sung by adorable kiddos.

After church, Justin and I had lunch at a local Mexican restaurant with Tim and Shannon, Justin's brother and his wife. Tummies full, we all headed to Justin's parents' house to practice target shooting with Tim's new pistol that he got from his loving wife for Christmas.

I did not, on Sunday afternoon, shoot a handgun for the very first time ever in my life. I *certainly* did not scream like a little girl after it went off, and you KNOW I didn't turn around and point it haphazardly in the direction of the crowd of onlookers while it was still loaded. Nope, not me. I am MUCH too smart for any of that business.

The good news is, I didn't shoot anybody. :) And I learned my lesson: always, always be aware of where you're pointing a loaded gun. Don't worry guys, I'll do better next time. Promise.

What have you not been up to this week? Go ahead! Go write a "Not Me Monday" post of your very own and link to MckMama's blog. Come on, you know you want to!

For Your Enjoyment

Does the chilly winter weather ever make you want to just curl up in front of a nice, cozy fire?

Well, here you go.

You're welcome.

One week 'til Christmas! :)

Christmas Confessions

As you already know, I love Christmas. It's my favorite time of year. If I could move to the North Pole and live with the Clauses, I would. The only problem is, all the joy and cheerfulness always comes with one little problem: the FOOD. This is always the time of year when I get the mentality that "Christmas calories don't count" (as I saw so craftily painted on a cookie platter at Cracker Barrel recently). I cook and bake more, and I sit my booty on the couch with something delicious and munch, and munch, and munch some more.

Now, if you are one of those people who is lucky enough not to have to count your calories, please take a moment and thank the good Lord for your good genes. I most definitely do not fall into that category. Since I was young, it has been a struggle to keep that number on the scale in a healthy range. And it sure doesn't help that I love to eat - especially sweet things, and especially during the holiday season! It's hard to find that balance where you can still enjoy the things you love, and not overdo it. I'm thinking the secret is either moderation, or exercise, or maybe a combination of both.

So, why am I sharing this little confession with all of my blog readers? So glad you asked. Well, I have found in the past that when I let others in on these types of things, I am more likely to follow through and be accountable. Know what I mean?

Since no time is better than the present, I'm not going to pull my usual "Well, I'll start doing such-and-such on Monday, blah blah blah" deal. I'm starting with right now, today. My original plan was to take my dog, Ellie, on a walk around the neighborhood this afternoon (Daisy, my little girl, can't quite handle the chilly weather for long, so she gets most of her exercise inside), but then it started raining, and who wants to walk in the rain? Not this girl. So, I think Plan B will be to bring out the Tae-Bo DVD that has been gathering dust for the past however-many months since I last used it.

This time around, I'm leaving the "d" word out of it, because I hate the whole "diet" mentality, where you kick your butt for a temporary length of time, and then finally break down and go nuts, falling right back into your old habits again. I'm still going to enjoy the holidays, and sample all the things I love; I just don't want to gain all the weight back that I've lost over the past couple years (about 20 pounds, give or take a few). I want to be healthy and happy, at the same time.

Aristotle was on to something when he said, "Everything in moderation." From here on out, I'm going to do my best to live up to that motto, and not overdo it during the remainder of the Christmas season. Sprinkle in a little exercise, and hopefully I won't kick off the new year by making yet another health-related resolution.

Who's with me?!

TGIF!

Enjoy! Happy Friday, all. Have a fantastic weekend!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Not Me! Monday

I first discovered "Not Me! Monday" from Melanie at Adorkable Me, and once I started reading MckMama's blog, where the whole "Not me" thing originated, I found myself glued to her site for hours. I just had to know more about this lady's incredible journey. If you've never been to her blog, you really should check it out!

So, without further ado, my very first Not me! Monday post.

*ahem*

I definitely did not come home from work tonight and immediately slip into my jammies at around 6 pm. Nope! And I most certainly did not eat so many homemade Christmas cookies that I didn't have room for a proper dinner. Not me!

I sure don't have so much love for the holidays that I practically sing Christmas carols in my sleep, and I don't complain about the warmish weather in South Carolina this time of year. Nope. I would NOT much rather be bundled up like an eskimo, waddling through a foot of snow. Not me! I am totally NOT a silly, giddy little child on the inside when it comes to Christmas. :)

If you want to write your own Not me! Monday post and link to MckMama's blog, click the adorable button below!

Santa Came Early!

This beauty is at home right now, waiting for me to come introduce myself.

I. am. so. excited! More to come. ;)

Word Cloud

Just a little something fun. Head over to Wordle to get your own word cloud!

Out with the Old, In with the New

Thanksgiving was grand. I ate way too much of some of the best home-cooked food I've had in a long time, and spent time with some pretty great people. There were 10 people around the Thanksgiving "table" (although most of us ate in the living room), and I think I speak for all of us when I say that everyone had a wonderful time. Little Emily, of course, was the life of the party, and we followed her around, taking pictures of her cuteness and giggling at the "sentences" she put together. She does this thing now where she sounds very much like an adult in her tone, but babbles on about who-knows-what, looking at you with this expression that says "you got all that?" It's great. :) Her vocabulary is pretty large for a little one her age, though, and she is constantly throwing out words none of us knew she was capable of!

Between all the food, the family, the football, and the fall colors (had to throw in another "f" there), Thanksgiving turned out to be pretty awesome.

And, let's not forget the whole point of the holiday - giving thanks. There really is so much to be thankful for, as Justin and I discussed on our way home from a delicious turkey dinner. We have some of the best friends and family anyone could ask for, and we have each other. We also have an upcoming trip to look forward to, which is making me super duper excited... are you ready? Here goes:

WE'RE GOING TO MICHIGAN FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

You have NO idea how happy this makes me. We originally thought that we wouldn't be able to afford a trip up there for the holidays, but when Justin found out that for once, he actually has a pretty busy work schedule throughout the upcoming winter, we decided to go for it. We will be driving all the way there in one day (a first for us) on Christmas day (another first), and will be staying with my family through New Year's Day. I am SO looking forward to snow, and precious time with family, and trying out our fantastic Christmas present to each other (which will be described in a later post... stay tuned!).

So, now that Thanksgiving is over, it's officially time to put up your Christmas trees, buy those presents, drape your house in lights, crank up that Christmas music (if you haven't tried Pandora, you really should) and start your countdowns to the BEST (in my opinion) day of the WHOLE year! Enjoy the new layout, and Happy Holidays, everyone! It won't be here for long, so let's enjoy every second of it!

Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for so many things.

My amazing husband who really does love me in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, through thick and thin.

Our beautiful home, with a warm, cozy bed and a big backyard where the dogs can play.

The wonderful people who show me warmth and hospitality when I can't be with my own family on special days.

The fact that I am blessed in so many ways; that God always provides, always forgives, always loves.

For all these things, and many more, I am thankful.



Love and Lattés,

Katie

Concussed

I have often complained that my life is a little too monotonous. The past couple days, I would have easily taken monotony over the unwanted excitement that took place in our house.

Tuesday night was the same as any other night. We watched a movie, I snacked on popcorn and a strawberry shortcake bar, and we went to bed at a decent time, ready to wake up at 5:30 for our respective jobs. Around 1:45 am, I woke up feeling a bit "off." I walked into the bathroom, felt a little dizzy for a moment, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in an awkward position on the tile floor. It took me a few minutes to catch my bearings and figure out how I had gotten from the bed to the bathroom floor (it wasn't until later that I remembered ever getting up to go to the bathroom). All I remember is that my head hurt, and I felt very weak and clammy. I called for Justin several times, but he couldn't hear me over our noisy bedroom fan.

Now, I have passed out before - I am slightly hypoglycemic, so I'm almost certain this was blood sugar related - but it wasn't the passing out that caused me to have the worst night, ever. It was the fact that I hit my head on the way down - HARD - likely on the tile floor, which has a concrete slab directly beneath it. Right after the fall, I was confused and in pain, but besides a bump on my forehead, I thought I was fine.

Not an hour later, I was gripped with SEVERE nausea, and ended up getting VERY sick in the bathroom several times. It was awful.

A trip to the doctor the next morning confirmed the conclusion Justin and I had come to mutually - I had given myself a concussion. This is a first for me, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I can handle pain, but nausea is a whole other story. And when you mix the two together... it's pretty miserable, to say the least.

Today, I am taking my second day off work to rest and drink fluids, and am already starting to feel better. Looks like I'm going to make it. :)

I have to mention that throughout this whole adventure, Justin has been absolutely incredible. He got up to help me walk to the bathroom all through the night when I was feeling sick, brought me water and medicine, and always made sure I was as comfortable as I could be. I am so lucky to have such an awesome husband.

Now, if I can just clean up this mess of a house enough that I won't scare away my mother-in-law and baby niece who are coming to bring me lunch in a couple hours!

More to come.

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Grown-up Birthdays

You know what I've never been able to figure out? How to solve a Rubik's Cube. But that isn't the point of this blog entry.

I've never been able to figure out why grown-ups aren't allowed to be giddy about their birthdays. Christmas isn't just for kids, and neither are birthdays! We all have them, they only come around once a year, and they're just plain fun! What other day do people come up to you and wish you an awesome day? I mean, really?

Since I was a little kid, I have made a big deal about birthdays. The word "birthday" becomes an adjective, and goes in front of every noun I use that day. For example: "I am putting on my birthday pants so I can go to my birthday job." See what I mean? Suddenly I'm thinking I shouldn't be sharing this much. :) Seriously though, I think I have come to a grown-up conclusion as to why I get *so* excited over days like my birthday and Christmas. First of all, leaving Michigan was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and anything that gives me an excuse to think back on family memories and remember years worth of good times, is a good thing. Secondly, my parents have always encouraged mine and my siblings' excitement, gladly adopting the "birthday as an adjective" thing and playing along.

Really, though.. most of our lives are a series of very small peaks and valleys, without a lot of change. That stagnancy drives me a little crazy sometimes. So, call me silly, but when I see an opportunity to have a rockin' day, even if it means people might look at me sideways, gosh darn it I'm going to seize that opportunity!

And speaking of which... has anybody noticed that we're almost halfway through November? Holy COW... the holidays are COMING!!

More to come. :)

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Boo!

Happy Belated Halloween! This year was a lot of fun for me. I hope you had a great time, too! On Friday, I dressed up for work.

My vampire getup won me "honorable mention" at our company costume contest. Woohoo! It was pretty awesome.. my boss even let me "bite" his neck (I really just draped my cloak over him and squirted his neck and my mouth with fake blood), and the results were fantastic. What a fun afternoon!

On Halloween night, I was on candy duty, passing out treats to the little ghouls and goblins of the neighborhood. We didn't see very many, but it was still completely awesome to be able to see trick-or-treaters for the first time since we got married. Finally, we're in a house now, and it makes everything that much cooler!

So, there you have it. Halloween was great! Now, November - and the holidays - are upon us, and I couldn't be more excited. It's the most wonderful time of the year! YAY!

More to come. :)

Love and Lattés,

Katie

If you can't put it into words...

...then let someone else say it for you. :) Here are a few of my favorite poems on autumn. I just love this time of year! Enjoy.

Nature XXVII, Autumn

by Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold,
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Ode to Autumn

by John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.


Love and Lattés,

Katie

10 Happy Things

Sorry, once again, for my lack of posts lately! I have been trying to balance an odd combination of being busy and incredibly bored, and haven't had much to report in a while. Since I have had a lot on my mind, and have really been trying to focus on the blessings in my life, I thought I would share 10 things that currently make me happy. So, without further ado, my 10 happy things:

1.My sweet hubby drew this and e-mailed a photo from his phone while he was out of town for work. :) I just love him.

2. Funfetti cookies. Seriously.

3. Being able to Facebook with family and friends all over the world.

4. My adorable - and genius - little niece who is constantly saying and doing new things. When she calls me "Tatie," it warms my heart.

5. The cool fall breeze we have had lately is just lovely.

6. A coworker brought me fresh honey from her parents' farm, and it is to die for!

7. I recently had a conversation with an atheist friend, and came out feeling even more strongly about the things I believe -- God is good.

8. I have already bought my Halloween costume, and am excited to dress up at work for the second year in a row (did someone say costume contest??)

9. I am in love with my new, red sweater from Old Navy.

10. We just bought Snow White and Pinocchio on Blu-Ray, and Justin hasn't seen either one yet! There's nothing to cheer you up like a Disney classic. :)

What makes you happy?

Love and Lattés,

Katie

FALLing in Love

Fall, being my favorite season, brings out my creative side. I am at my best when I'm doing something that uses the right side of my brain, and for some reason, this time of year I get the urge to create. I cook and bake more, I find little craft projects to do, and lately, I sew! My latest project was a doggie bed, which I made out of a cute, paw-printed fabric and the stuffing from an old pillow. I made a do-it-yourself oval shaped pattern out of wrapping paper, and made a simple two-sided pillow for Daisy to sleep on in her crate. (Picture coming soon!)

Now that I'm finished with that little project, I'm trying to decide what to do next. Since Halloween is only a few short weeks away, I have been googling costume ideas and pumpkin carving designs like crazy. I haven't made any decisions yet in those areas, but when I do, I'll be sure to share my ideas.

Aside from my fascination with autumn, there is not much to report. Justin and I have both been busy with work, and are only able to see each other about three days a week until his current project is over. I apologize for my lack of blogging, and promise I will come up with something more interesting to write about soon. :)

Have a great week, everybody! Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

It's Here! It's Here!

Okay class, does anybody know what today is? .... No? It's ONLY the first day of my favorite season of all. Today, kids, is the autumnal equinox, also known as the first day of fall. Starting today, we can all get out our cheesy leaf garlands and light candles that smell like pumpkin and cinnamon. Can you feel the excitement?! It would really be nice if South Carolina would hurry up and get the fall memo already; the leaves on the trees here are still as green as they were in May, and our temperatures still reach the 80s on a daily basis. Uh, hello Mother Nature.. wake up! It's fall! Not that I'm complaining; the weather has been great and all. I am just so antsy to get out my sweaters and long-sleeved shirts, and to go pick apples and carve pumpkins and.. well, you get the jist. :) I am a fall-aholic! So, from me to you...

Love and Lattés,

Katie

I Love Me Some Nirvana

...and I'm not talking about the band.

Saturday, I redeemed my Urban Nirvana gift card and went for an hour long massage.

An. hour. long. massage.

It was even better than I could have imagined. If you've never had a professional massage, I highly recommend it. Okay, so at first it was just a *teensy* bit awkward, because as soon as I was shown to the small, dark room, I had to undress and wriggle under the sheet on the table thingie. As per Justin's request, I asked for a female masseuse. I am glad I did, too, because it did help some with the awkward factor. Once the lady put her hands on my back though, the awkwardness completely disappeared and I was in heaven. Carolyn (that was her name) had a super soft voice, and communicated well. She said things like "Katie, I'm going to do all of your movements for you. Try not to move your own arms or legs; just relax..." and I felt like a little puppy getting scratched behind the ears. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm not the type to splurge on "frivolous" things, but I will definitely be going back for another massage (or maybe a spa treatment!) one day, because after going, I suddenly find myself more relaxed, less stressed, and generally more happy. :)

And speaking of happy, I made "breakfast for dinner" last night, and I don't mean to brag, but I made the most delicious French toast. I mean, it really hit the spot. I have a special place in my heart for breakfast foods, and they just downright make my day.

Now, I will level with you - my life is not always massages and French toast. A good friend of mine, who also happens to be a coworker, is leaving town, and this makes me sad. Tomorrow is his last day at work, and since there is already one unfilled position, we are going to be *extremely* short staffed at the Information Desk. But, life goes on. I wish my good buddy the best of life as he ventures out into the world and follows his heart. Stephen, it is going to be tough to fill your shoes, and you will be missed, but we will manage somehow. :) Don't forget to write!

I will leave you with a photo from work today.. this is me (duh) and my little buddy, Gavin Mathis (the 7 week old son of one of my bosses). Isn't he the cutest thing you have ever seen?!

Have a great week, all!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

We Remember...

Ellen to Replace Paula?!

This morning, as I sat at the table finishing my cup of coffee, I overheard a few phrases on "The Today Show" that caught my attention. "What?!" I said. "Rewind that!" Justin, equally confused, hit rewind on the DVR remote. He pushed play, and then we both sat in stunned silence as we heard the news we thought we had heard the first time: that Ellen Degeneres had been chosen as a permanent fourth judge on American Idol. You can read about it here.

I know, I know... a little dramatic, right? But, hey - Justin and I are shameless Idol watchers, and we may have even voted once or twice (or twenty times, what's the difference?). We watched proudly as a couple of our favorite contestants were crowned "the next American Idol" (namely, Carrie Underwood and David Cook) and screamed in horror at the TV as some of the greats were kicked off way too soon (Daughtry anyone?!). Maybe we have too much time on our hands, but we are Idol nerds and aren't really sure what to think about this latest development. We both love Ellen and think she'll add some hilarity to the show. Of course, it will be tough to fill Paula's shoes... oh, the special moments we have had poking fun at her outlandish (and sometimes indistinguishable) statments, choices in fashion and inability to agree with Simon's logical opinions.

This is going to be interesting.

Thoughts, anyone?


Love and Lattés,

Katie

Bold and Beautiful

For the sake of my non-sewing friends, I will digress from that particular subject for a bit -- except to quickly mention that I got a really cute basket to put all my sewing stuff in from TJ Maxx for $5.99... just sayin'.

Anyway.

I realize that the entire inspiration for my blog was my love of coffee, and that I rarely ever talk about it anymore. So, today's post is about that hot, dark, beautiful beverage I happily consume every morning, whether it's one degree or one hundred degrees outside. Am I sounding obsessive? Really, I only have one cup a day, but that one cup gives me the fuel I need for a day of commuting and working and the responsibilities of being a homeowner and having two dogs and a husband and... well, you get the point. :) It's a busy life, and sometimes you just need that "you" thing to get you through the day. There are a few things that help me feel relaxed and recharged: time with God; a nice, hot bubble bath; reading a few chapters of a great book; some great quality time with my hubby; and, of course, that magical elixir of dreams (ha).

Since my coffee maker of choice is a Braun Tassimo, and its elusive "t-discs" (also known as pods in the more general sense) are becoming harder and harder to find, we occasionally order them in bulk online. When that box of java arrives, I am like a kid at Christmas. It's so wonderful to restock the cabinet with goodies like SBux Caffe Verona, Seattle's Best Henry's Blend, and I always try to throw in something I haven't tried as well. This time around, it was Maxwell House's French Roast. As you may have read before, Maxwell House makes a delicious house blend that has become my "go-to" coffee when I don't want to spend much money. Plus, Target always carries it. So, naturally, I expected big things from MH French Roast. Let me tell you -- I was not disappointed.

This coffee is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is bold, but not too acidic, and like SB's Caffe Verona, it has just the right amount of earthiness for my palette. It is perfect for those slow mornings that you need a little extra boost to get moving. I highly recommend it.

I hope all my friends and readers are enjoying a fun Labor Day weekend!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Sneak peek

Look what I just bought on Ebay!


With it, I plan to make a trick-or-treat bag for Emily! I have no idea how long this will take me, which is why I'm starting early. I have googled and come across some cute patterns - I'll share the one I choose with photos of the end result!

Gotta run - but there's more to come, as usual :)

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Sew Awesome!

Last night, Justin and I went to Wal-Mart on a company errand for his dad's business, and we ended up having to stick around quite a while. We decided to make the most of it, stopping for dinner at the Papa Bello's pizza restaurant inside the giant store (not bad, actually. Superb cheese breadsticks!). After that, we did some "fun shopping" - at least for me. My poor hubby was getting shopper's fatigue, as men often do when forced to shop for long periods of time. He was a trooper, though. :)

Anyway, we walked around the arts and crafts area, and I remarked that I had been wanting to get a sewing machine so that I would have something creative to do with my free time. He smiled and said, "Do you want to get one now?" Um... of course I did! About 30 minutes later, we were checking out with this:



as well as two yards of black and white polka dot fabric, various spools of thread, a box of pins, a zipper, and a pattern for a basic, A-line skirt.

Now, I have never used a sewing machine before - ever. So, after over an hour of reading the manual and trying to thread my new machine last night, I finally gave up. This morning, all it took was a couple instructional YouTube videos and a little patience, and SUCCESS! It's all threaded and ready to go! I am so excited to actually make something with it. I will share my progress, for those of you who enjoy this sort of thing. :)

Oh, the possibilities!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Moment of silence...

...for my laptop. It is currently at the computer hospital, getting a new motherboard. Thank the Lord for warantees!

In the meantime (the Geek Squad tells me it will be 2-4 weeks), I will be sharing Justin's computer (when he's home, anyway, and not on the road for work) and using my handy dandy iPhone web browser to stay connected to the world.

Not having my laptop for one whole day (gasp) has made me realize just how attached to it I have been. Perhaps it's time to get off my couch and find other fun and interesting things to do. Hmm. I feel like I need a project. Any inexpensive suggestions?

More to come!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

The Best Sugar Cookies Ever

I've had a lot of time on my hands lately, and have found myself itching to do something creative. When I don't have anything fun to do, I often default to baking. Specifically, I like to bake cookies. Justin and I both love a good sugar cookie, but neither of us is easy to please; we both love a not-too-firm, not-too-soft cookie, and frosting - preferably buttercream - that isn't *too* sweet.

One recent afternoon, I did a quick google search and found a recipe for "The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies" that used ingredients I already had on hand. I made a half batch, which disappeared so quickly that I didn't even get to take a picture of my delicious creation. You can find the recipe here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/The-Best-Rolled-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx.

A little more googling found a yummy sounding frosting recipe, which allowed me to utilize the heavy whipping cream we bought when my family was down (Callie made homemade vanilla whipped cream for a perfect strawberry shortcake). That recipe is here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gale-gand/quick-vanilla-buttercream-frosting-recipe/index.html. Simple, right? But the cream makes all the difference.

After tasting one of my cookies, Justin remarked that these were the best I had ever made. So, I thought I'd share. :) You can bet I'll be making these again! If you used fun cookie cutters and added food coloring to the frosting, they would make a festive treat for any holiday or event! I'm considering making Jack-O-Lantern cookies with this recipe for Halloween. Maybe some candies on top... oh, the creative juices are really flowing now!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Graduation, Celebration, Vacation!

As you can see, life is pretty great right now. That long sought-after bachelor's degree in English is finally mine, and graduation went splendidly. Our family vacation on the beach was a blast, and I must say that I absolutely approve of my brother's girlfriend, Kattie. She is super adorable and they are perfect together! I was sad to see everyone go, but as we said our affectionate goodbyes, we talked about seeing each other again sometime soon. I am (not-so-secretly) hoping we'll be able to make the trip to Michigan for Christmas this year. :)

More to come!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Four years ago today...

we said "I do," and our "happily ever after" began...

we stood beside our dearest loved ones and made a commitment to last a lifetime...

we expressed our love and devotion to each other before God...

we reveled in the bliss of a new beginning, as two became one.

I am so blessed to be able to spend my life with such a sweet, funny, adorable, loving, amazing man. Here's to him, and to the next four years, and many, many more to come.


Love and Lattés,


Katie

One of Those Days

This morning, some invisible force was determined to keep Justin and me home from church. It was like Murphy's Law being played out before our eyes. One thing after another: Justin dropping a fruit cup, which exploded all over the kitchen floor and threatened to make us late; his clothes taking a little too long to finish drying; and then, finally, the big one.

We were making our way into the garage. I said, "Honey, do you have your keys?" and before I could get the word "keys" out, he had shut the door. Which was locked. He said, "No, I was going to use yours." I dug through my purse, but to no avail. No keys. We were locked out.

Since everyone was already at church, we waited outside the house till noon. Finally, Justin was able to get a hold of his parents, who had a spare key -- or so we thought. WRONG! So, feeling more than a little discouraged, we called a locksmith. Actually, we called about four before we finally got a hold of someone.

We waited, and waited, and waited some more.

Justin's parents were kind enough to bring us lunch from San Jose (THE local place to get Mexican food) and wait with us a while.

I don't remember when the locksmith finally came, but I believe it was around 2 pm. We spent $60 for him to use a little tool that took about... oh, ten seconds to unlock the door. But by this time, we didn't care. I can not explain to you how good it felt to step back into our cozy, air conditioned home after three hours of sitting in the hot, humid garage (it was raining; otherwise, we might have sat on the back patio).

Most of the afternoon was spent relaxing and enjoying NOT being outside, but eventually we gave in and took care of the grocery shopping and yard work that were begging to be done.

We also had dinner at Shoney's with Tim, Shannon and Emily (who is spunkier than ever and stinking adorable), which was a lot of fun!

Not the best of days, but not the worst either. Spending time with my husband - even under such circumstances as these - is always nice. He's my best friend, and I love him so much.

I should mention that we learned our lesson after the little episode this morning. We now have a spare key in the car, which we can get into at any time using the number pad on the outside. And yes, I have the code memorized. :)

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Why I love August

There is a lot to celebrate in August:

8/6 - Our 4 year wedding anniversary
8/7 - My family arrives from Michigan
8/8 - I graduate from USC
8/10 - We drop the dogs off to be boarded and head to the beach
8/12 - My parents' anniversary
8/17 - My mom's 50th birthday

As many of you know, I am "that guy"... er... "that girl" when it comes to holidays and celebrations. I get all festive and giddy when one comes along, and for us, especially this year, August is chock full of special days! Tomorrow is the last day of July, and while I am a bit sad that summer is flying by so quickly, I am more than ready to welcome a new and exciting month!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

PS- I am currently messing around with my layout again (I am so blogsessive it isn't even funny), so pardon any changes that may take place over the next week or so. :)

Short and Sweet

First week back on Weight Watchers went well. I didn't find myself pulling out my hair over diet choices, and easily lost one pound in seven days.

This morning I was able to tighten my belt by another notch.

I am challenging myself to get out the Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD and work out 5 days this week.

***

I am immensely excited about the next couple of weeks, because...

I will be a University of South Carolina alum in approximately 12 days,

and I will be on the beach with my family in approximately 14 days.

***

I have fallen in love with Fiber One muffin mixes. It is true what they say in the commercials -- "Cardboard, no. Delicious, yes." Their food is healthy, and still shockingly yummy!

***

My little brother has recently started dating a really sweet and adorable girl, who I cannot wait to meet. Her name is Kattie (pronounced the same way as my name), which is sure to amuse and confuse the family. :)

***

My in-laws have taken in a rescued horse named Sybil. She is super sweet and so pretty! I like to feed her apples... she can tell when you have treats for her when you're about a hundred feet away. She's skinny, but healthy, and in time will look like a million bucks!

***

Justin is currently working a lot, which is both good (money!) and bad (I really miss him). But, we are thankful for every opportunity.

Gotta run! More later. Have a great week, all!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Worth Seeing

Since finishing up classes, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time watching movies and TV shows on DVD (thanks, Netflix). In case you were wondering what to watch this summer, I thought I'd share my humble point of view on some of the better things I've seen.

First up, Weeds. Now, this is a show I was a bit skeptical about to begin with. For those of you who don't know, it's about a suburban widow who decides to become a drug dealer in order to support her family and their luxurious lifestyle. Okay.. so sometimes, the language can be a bit much, and there is basically no way I could ever relate to the show at all. Having said all that, though, it's a pretty entertaining show, and the writing is extremely clever. I would probably give Weeds a B, and will continue to watch it when the next season airs.

Next up: Gran Torino. Once again, this one's got some pretty rough language, but it simply wouldn't make sense any other way, given the ultra hostile nature of the main character, who just so happens to be a widower. (What is it with widows and widowers? Must make for a good story..). There is a perfect mixture of sweet and sour that makes Gran Torino very much worth watching. I was drawn in from the beginning, and hooked till the end. I'd give this film a B+.

Another show we have recently started to get into is Mad Men. It's about "ad men" in 1960s New York, and the clothing, dialogue, etc. reflect the setting eerily well. The writing can be a bit confusing sometimes, and the plot has had its slow moments, but I'm hooked anyway! I haven't seen a ton of episodes yet, but I'd give the show a B- and will continue to watch it.

Last but not least, I just *have* to rave about one of my all-time favorite shows. It's on HBO, it comes on every Sunday night, and it's absolutely addicting. It's............

That's right. This one's about vampires that live in Bon Temps, Louisiana. It has everything a good show needs: action, romance, mystery, shock value, and of course, blood. :) Watch it. You know you want to. Of course, keep in mind that HBO doesn't censor much; there are some pretty adult scenes every now and then, and the occasional "F bomb" is dropped. But, I love this show. I have never been so intrigued by a vampire story in my life! I give it an A. Can't wait for the next episode!

More to come.

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Back to the Drawing Board.

At the end of my nearly carb-less week, I found myself two pounds lighter (never did lose any more after the first couple days) and a bit grouchy. I know it works wonders for some people, but I just don't think it's the right fit for me. What fun is losing weight if you're bitter about the method, right? Oh, well. At least I can say I tried it.

So, what now, you ask? Well, I have decided to go back to the one program that never lets me down: Weight Watchers. I have also come to the conclusion that the number on the scale won't likely move much further without some serious exercise. I played tennis with Justin's family twice this weekend, and I am feeling it all over! We have also been doing quite a bit of swimming - real swimming, not just floating around in the pool. So, if I keep up the exercise AND count my calories, I think I will finally get some results. Why is it that it takes so much work to get in shape? My goodness!

More to come.

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Success!

So, I found an adorable dress to wear for graduation and just had to show it off! It arrived in the mail today, and it fits wonderfully. (Actually, it's a teensy bit big - guess my weight loss tactics are working. Score!) It's a little modern and a little traditional... kinda like me!

Don't you just love it when you find just what you need the FIRST time?

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Bye-bye, carbs.

Upon seeing someone close to me lose a good amount of weight pretty quickly on a low carb diet, I decided on a whim to give it a shot myself. Now, I know what some of you are thinking: "Low carb = high fat, right?" Not necessarily. I've sort of come up with my own diet plan with a lot of good protein and plenty of natural, easily digestible foods. Today is day 3, and already I have lost 2 pounds- and that's without much exercise!

So far, my favorite low-carb foods have included eggs, turkey and cheese roll-ups (basically a sandwich without the bread), fresh fruits and veggies, salads and Breyer's "Carb Smart" ice cream bars. Once I got into the swing of things, it really hasn't been too terrible. For the next couple days, I have planned out a menu to keep myself accountable. Tonight, I'm making low-carb taco salad, and tomorrow's dinner will be tortilla-less chicken fajitas.

I don't think I'll be able to do the low-carb thing forever, but I realize that I will have to transition out of it slowly, so as not to put all the weight right back on (which I hear is pretty easy to do). My short-term goal is to make it through the week, only eating about 20g of carbs per day, and then slowly add in more each week until I reach a comfortable balance.

To be honest, I never realized how many carbs I eat on a daily basis until I started this thing. Foods like pizza, pasta and bread are an absolute staple for me when I'm eating what I want, and that's exactly why I think this change will make a noticeable difference. At the very least, it will get me back on track so that I can lose more weight at a steady pace.

I'll post more about my progress soon.. I'm sure all my readers are just fascinated by this. ;)

Love and Low-carb Lattés,

Katie

Summer Lovin'

So far, I have really enjoyed this summer. Even though Justin and I haven't gone on a vacation just yet (I'm really hoping for a beach weekend one of these days... hint hint), I have had a lot of fun getting settled into the new house and our new life in Elgin. I have also enjoyed *not* being in class all the time. Sure, work is a little busy this time of year, but it's not so bad. Life is just plain easier since the era of classes and homework has ended.

I have been spending as much time as possible in my in-laws' new pool, for my sanity and my health. I've been doing some "real" swimming to burn a few calories, especially because I haven't been as diligent with my dieting lately. (I have maintained my weight since unofficially stopping Weight Watchers, but plan to get back in the groove and actually LOSE some more very soon!)

Yesterday, I went to a cute little salon in Camden called Allure, and got a new look a la Jennifer. I think she did a great job!

Oh, and weekends - now they're the best. Sleeping in every Saturday, sipping on a great cup of coffee, floating around in the pool, sharing some great conversations and a few laughs with my adorable husband... these are the things that make me happy.

We've been doing some work on our backyard, however, and that is not so happy for this girl who just mowed her first lawn a few weeks ago! I have a cut on one finger and a tiny thorn stuck in my left thumb from pulling up weeds and roots yesterday. Guess it's time to buy a good pair of gardening gloves! Oh, well. Once we turn our rough, sandy backyard into a pretty, grassy one, it will have been worth all the thorns. I am looking forward to getting the grunt work done so we can lay down some soil and seed!

Even with the not-so-fun parts, I can't help but enjoy myself as summer lazily ticks by. It also doesn't hurt that I will be the proud owner of a BA in English in approximately 27 days!

More to come. Now go out and enjoy the sunshine!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

iLove

Fourth of July was fun. Ate some amazing barbecued chicken, swam in the in-laws' new in-ground pool, played with cute kiddos and had some nice conversations with the family. Got a sunburn on the tops of my thighs, though, from sitting with my knees bent by the pool a bit too long. Whoops.(Above: Shannon and Emily getting ready to swim at the Vaughan's 4th of July celebration)

Got most of our plants from housewarming in the ground; most are doing pretty well, but the ground is SO DRY right now that we are having to water 2 to 3 times every day so our pretty plants don't die! Here's a photo of the beautiful hibiscus flowers from Jess and Jeremy. I love them so much (the flowers AND the friends ;))

GOT AN IPHONE 3GS! That has been the highlight of my week. I can't put it down! I can check my e-mail, update my Facebook status, take pictures, play games, and listen to music... all in one handy little device. I am in love!
Graduation is just about a month away and I'm getting pretty excited! I have my cap and gown all ready to go. All I need is a diploma!

Since finishing classes, I haven't known what to do with myself. I admit, I have become a bit of a lazy bum after work in the evenings. I have more time now to do the things that make me happy, like watch "reality" TV (The Next Food Network Star, anyone?!), get a little fresh air with the hubby and dogs, and of course, play with my new iPhone! :) You would think I'd get bored with so much free time, but surprisingly, I haven't. You won't hear me complaining, that's for sure!

More to come.

Love and Lattés,


Katie

Warmth

Our housewarming was well-attended and a lot of fun! We had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, some of whom we don't get to see very often, and it was awesome! The food turned out pretty nicely too, in my not-so-humble opinion. :) We served grilled hot dogs, ham and turkey finger sandwiches, fresh fruit with cream cheese dip, chips with onion dip, yellow cake cupcakes with chocolate frosting, and a variety of beverages including lemonade and sweet tea. Deeeeelicious!

Our lovely guests gave us lots of beautiful gifts, including wall hangings, decorative plates, a set of trivets, a fragrance diffuser, gardening supplies, and an assortment of colorful plants to spruce up our yard. Everyone was so thoughtful, and we appreciated everything so much! (Pictures to come soon.) It warmed my heart to be surrounded by such great people. We are blessed!

And speaking of warmth, it has been H-O-T outside lately... Michiganders, you have no idea! It has easily reached the 100s every day this past week, if I'm not mistaken. The only thing that has made it a bit more manageable is the in-ground pool my in-laws had put in recently. I am rediscovering my love for swimming pools, and have spent so much time in the pool already that my hair is in need of a nice conditioning treatment after being soaked in chlorinated water for hours at a time!

As my current Facebook status says, my freckles have come out of hiding, which can only mean one thing - summertime is here! I love summer. :)

Love and Iced Lattés,

Katie

Fences and Weeds

Had a privacy fence installed this week.

It's everything we wanted and more! Funny how something like a fence in the backyard can bring so much peace. No more leashes, people! That means a lot to this former apartment-dweller. Daisy and Ellie didn't seem to understand their newfound freedom at first, but they have since learned to run and play and enjoy themselves a bit. Still, after about five minutes of this they come straight to the door and beg to come inside.

And speaking of newfound freedom, I absolutely do not know what to do with my time now that I'm finished with classes! Of course, I am working full time now at UTS, but in the evenings I always get that "what am I supposed to be doing right now?" feeling. It's quite a relief not to have homework, let me tell you.

Justin and I have discovered a couple "new to us" TV shows: True Blood and Weeds. Both are pretty addictive and worth a look if you're interested! (We're Netflixing episodes of Weeds- they are available for instant viewing online!)

Also, we recently bought Sims 3 which brought the already addicting game to a whole new level for me. Oops, sorry... is my nerdiness showing?

Other than that, there is nothing new to report. Just waiting to hear from the PACE program to see if I have been accepted into the teaching certification program, and trying to get ready for our housewarming BBQ which is Saturday.

Gotta run, lunch is almost over. Have a great week, readers! Don't be afraid to comment every now and then... I see there are plenty of you out there, but I have no idea who *you* are! :)

I promise I'll make more of an effort to find interesting things to post about this summer. Here I am bragging about having extra time, and yet my blog gets so little attention these days!

Okay, really have to go now!

Love and Lattés,

Katie

Amazing

That's the only word to describe the past week - amazing. I was so blessed to be able to see my family and attend my baby sister's graduation from high school. During the time I spent in Tecumseh, there was a lot of food, laughter, and most of all silliness. Callie's open house, which was at my parents' house, was what you might call organized chaos. The better part of my huge extended family was there, as well as a number of church members, friends and neighbors. There were two half-sheet cakes, which my dad thought would be too much, and by the end of the party there were only about four pieces left! People seemed to really enjoy themselves; I know I did!

I must say, it is really crazy to think that all three of the Cothern siblings have graduated- and that I will be graduating again in August with my BA! I am already finished with classes, and it started to sink in yesterday. I was sitting on the couch watching Friends reruns, when I got that "I feel like I should be doing something" feeling. I was about to get up and check my notebook for homework assignments when I realized... oh my goodness. Never again will I have to worry about the horror that is being a full-time undergraduate student! Let me tell you, it still doesn't completely feel real but it is NICE to know that I am finished with classes, homework, professors... all of it.

Besides news of travel and graduations, there isn't much else to report. Justin is still great, our house is still fantastic, and Daisy and Ellie are still being their crazy, adorable selves. I will end this entry with a photo of my beautiful sister in her cap and gown. I am so proud of the gorgeous, mature young lady she has become!


Love and Lattés,


Katie


PS - Congratulations to my brother's band, Bel and the Dragon, for recently recording their first album. Check them out on Facebook and MySpace!