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