HOLY COW

So I've been following the Bright Side Project for a couple of months now and, wouldn't you know it, I WON SOMETHING!

Not only something, I won SHOES! But I'm having the hardest time deciding which to pick. Dear readers, help me choose.

Green: I would wear all the time. Versatile, nice pop of pattern




Shiny: Great for work, love the cut-out details, I don't own ANY pointed toe shoes




Ruffles: When would I ever buy myself such fantastic shoes? Never. Shouldn't a freebie be the time I go all out?

What would you do?

EDIT: I thought this was really funny. When the Ear Doctor saw the ruffle ones he skrunched up his face and said they looked like mushrooms. I've tried my best to convince him that they'd look really cute on...but he's skeptical....

Reschedule

This weekend I helped throw a party for roughly 100 people. The original plan was to hold the event Friday at 6 pm.

Friday morning Denver got it's last exciting middle of spring snow storm. As I looked out my office window and saw the snow on my sill topping out at 8 inches I was pretty sure the party wasn't going to happen. After a flurry of emails the decision was made to reschedule the party for Saturday night. Hundreds of calls were made to every person invited to tell them the new plan.

This was the moment when 16 year old Katie starts to whisper, "this is going to be just like your birthday when you invited 40 people and 6 showed up...give up...surrender...you aren't that cool."

But I looked her in the eye and told her to just go back to her insecure hole. The party would go on!

Saturday at about 3 pm we went to the venue and realized that the wet heavy snow had found its way under the dilapidated shingles. We were informed that water in light fixtures is a bad idea. Apparently this WATER was a fire hazard. Yeah, I didn't ever think that water could pose a fire threat, but I guess I'm wrong.

So, 3 hours before the party a second set of a hundred call were made and location of said party was changed. At this point I was pretty sure that no one would come. The roads were covered in deep, slushy snow and had I not been an organizer I'm not sure if I would have braved them to make my way.

At 5:45 the tables were set, the music playing and the food just about ready to serve.

And the hall was empty.


FEAR rushed over me. No one was coming. With all the changes and upsets I thought, surely, people would throw in the towel.

I . was . wrong .

In 20 minutes the hall was filled with happy, excited, friendly faces despite the crazy weather. All in all 30 lbs of carnitas tacos were consumed, 2 pinatas mangled by excited, overfed children and all 100 people had a great time.

So there, 16-year-old-self, you aren't too bad after all.

Cool Denver house Friday

Alright, this cute house is really tiny. Probably too small for us, but I can just picture myself sitting on the porch in the middle of the summer sipping lemonade and watching the kids ride their bikes by.

The cost for this 3 bed, 1 bath, 955 sq ft house? $145. Plus there's a 2 car garage...

Sick Streaks

Our new across the hall neighbors are gross. Gross with a capital G.



Their major offense? They have the world's leakiest garbage and drag/spill it down the 2 flights of stairs that we share in order to get to our parking lot. Almost every morning I am met with this kind of horrifying sight:






What kind of person does that? Who doesn't notice they are leaving a huge smear of nastiness wherever their bag goes and freakin DOUBLE BAG it!?!?! Times are NOT that tough. It makes me want to get protective booties to wear over my shoes.


The only thing that fixes my mood after seeing a scene play out like this is a new-found joy in my life. There is a radio station here in the Denver area called "The Party." It's been around awhile and I never listened to it because I figured with a dumb name like "The Party" it had to be focused on the 11 to 17 year old demographic.


However, when I got a new battery for my car all my preset stations were wiped and I had to search around to find them again. This happy accident led me to "The Party."


And I was right...it is a music station for teenie-boppers. But not today's teenie-boppers....the teenie-boppers of the 1990's!!! (That'd be me!)


I can't tell you how the melodic offerings of Lauryn Hill's Killing Me Softly has soothed my soul after almost slipping in the neighbor's grease slick. How passionately I sing along with TQ and his account of life in the Westside. How deeply I feel Gwen Stefani's pain while I belt out that I, too, would like you to not speak. How really and truly I, like my good buddy Montell Jordan, know how we do it.


Now if only I could get my dumb neighbors to figure out how we do it too.

Need something to brighten your day?

Click over to my COUSIN'S blog.

If it doesn't make you smile from ear to ear then I feel sorry for you and your cold, unfeeling heart.

Blogger to Blogger

I'm so excited to share my little blogger to blogger interview with you this week! If you don't know Emily's blog where she shares her awesome style, you are in for a REAL treat! I love this girl, and in my eyes, she can do no wrong.

Emily asked: What was the 12 year old Katie like? How are you the same today?

Katie answered: It's funny that you ask, because right now I'm probably more like 12 year old Katie than I've ever been. I went through a rough patch (high school, undergrad) where I felt very insecure and kind of lame. I thought everyone was judging me and as a result I was very harsh and judgemental. 12 year old Katie would not have liked the older version of herself at all.

However in the last 5 years I've really learned to lighten up. To laugh and be goofy. To not try so hard to try to convince everyone else that I've got it all together. Because, really, I don't. Wonder and excitement have come back to me and that is how 12 year old Katie would have had it.

12 year old Katie was fascinated by flight and Egypt. She wanted to explore the Oceans. She wanted to eat a whole box of cheezits without any restriction and she loved playing with her friends. That's pretty much me today.

Emily asked: When did you know that engineering was the right career for you? Did someone inspire you to make that choice?

Katie answered: I've always liked science and math. I blame my parents for sending me to science camp when I was little and for getting me both a microscope and telescope. I'd dream about how to build things and once, at 16, found myself in the middle of an alpine lake lashing dead logs together to make a raft for myself.

My mom realized what I was before I did. She suggested that I look into engineering when I got to college. I remember my first engineering class which was basically a 1 credit weekly lecture where they talked about different topics. The first or second lecture was all about how people invented the tempering process for glass windshields that makes it safe for use in front of people in cars and I was hooked.

Engineering is amazing. You learn basic principles of the universe and then combine that with your creative mind to make life better for all humanity. It takes the raw creativity of an artist mixed with the scientific know-how of a physicist to be a good engineer.

Emily asked: If you could quit everything right now and do whatever you wanted for the rest of the day...what would you do?

Katie answered: Well, it is beautiful right now and I just found out that you can actually take DOGS into Rocky Mountain National park! I'd grab the ear doctor and Roscoe and head up to the mountains. We'd stop by Big Al's BBQ shack for lunch and get a little white box of maple with walnut fudge in Estes Park. Then we'd hike until sunset.

And then it was my turn to do the asking...


Katie asked: You always seem to be so polished and put together. Do you really feel that way?

Emily answered: Wouldn't that be nice!? I'm far from always polished or put together. I have the boniest elbows on the planet, a penchant for dropping food on the floor during parties and have more than my share of insecurities. But I do try. I've always been fascinated by "adulthood", even as a kid. I couldn't wait to get my first pair of heels and have my own apartment. Being an adult comes with all these great opportunities to dress-up, eat chocolate whenever you want, have fancy things, throw fun parties, and travel around the world. I love being an adult!

Katie asked: What is the biggest difference between dating and being married to Rob?

Emily answered: Married life has been delightful! After living together for 7 years, I wasn't sure anything would change in our relationship. But now that we're married we're more focused on taking care of each other and it really feels like our own little family. The one big difference I noticed right after the wedding is that I worry now about Rob's safety. On our honeymoon hikes and adventures, I worried constantly!


Katie asked: People say that blogging is narcissistic. How do you respond?

Emily answered: There's a thin margin between self-reflection and narcissism. I honestly don't see a lot of the narcissistic side, at least in our blog "community." It's funny to put that in quotes because I really do see it as a community. Blogging is all about sharing your life with others. Which seems to me to be an act of generosity. Following other people's blogs has helped me become more open and less judgmental. For my own blog, writing helps me focus on the fact that my life is pretty great right now. Blogging helps me stress less and appreciate life more. Community, acceptance, appreciation...all good things!

Best day of the year

Today is take your daughter/son to work day and, can I just tell you, I am LOVING it! It is so cool to see all these professional engineer guys bring their kids to work. I love seeing the more personal, sincere family side of all these guys.

It doesn't hurt to have some cute little high pitched voices floating up into the air either. The energy they bring with them is palpable and make this place SO much more fun!


I wish they could come everyday...although I'm not sure how much actual work would get done...

My new favorite place

Yesterday I went to lunch at a new place and upon walking in I breathed a sign of relief. It was like I'd finally found a place that was designed specifically with me in mind. Just take a look at this interior:




What you are looking at is a franchised burger joint called Larkburger. Can you believe it? I couldn't. The burgers are awesome, only a little more expensive than your average fast food place and can be topped with real Tilamook cheddar served with a side of truffle Parmesan fries.

It's especially cool because every bit of packaging material is compostable and their used canola oil is recycled into bio-diesel.

A little bling

Did the Easter bunny find her way to your house this weekend? She sure came to ours! Just check out the total score that I made:

Yup, I can feel your jealousy through the Internet. You better believe I proudly wore these to church.

Cool Denver house Friday

Another really cool house that is priced at least 100K lower than any other house on the street is this baby:

Built in 1906, and for only $199K this 3 bed, 2 bath, 1472 sq ft charmer is ready for us to bring it up to snuff. I just love the porch and the chimney. This one would require some serious work, but I'm sure my dad wouldn't mind coming to town to help out...

Right dad?

Bang watch 2009

I knew that when I got my bangs cut I'd need to get them trimmed a lot. But I can never find the time/energy to get them clipped. As a result?

You know it's bad when your husband says your starting to look like an English Sheep dog:

I prefer to think I'm starting to look like the sexy torch-singing pound dog, Peg, from Lady and the Tramp.

I'm OK with that.

PS, this movie made me infinitely happy this morning.

Blogger to Blogger

Next up? My pal Erica from Her Bloggity Blog. Every Monday this girl puts a list of awesome stuff that looks like I could have pulled it myself! I've been dying to ask her a few questions, and this is what I came up with.


Katie asked: Erica, what item of clothing do you buy most frequently and what do you think that says about you? (girl, I've seen those stacks of jeans in your closet....)

Erica answered: I suppose the item I buy most frequently would be tops (it's a generalization I know, but work with me here :D). Yes it's true I do in fact have a few jeans (and be few I mean a double digit number that won't be revealed), but that's because different washes and cuts cater to what ever mood I'm in and how I'm feeling. Feeling a little bloated...wear the broken in boyfriend style jeans. Want to look a little more put together...try a dark wash trouser jean.

Back to tops - You can't have too many. I used to have a bazillion tees but have realized over the past few years I'm digging more the plain tops with some cool detailing (ruffles, intricate threading). I also love a good silk blouse. Banana Republic rocks in this category. Score some sweet silk tops from them by checking their sale racks (I NEVER pay full price) or doing a little searching on Ebay. For some reason the shirt looks better/feels better if I know I scored a deal :).

What does this say about me? 1. The way I dress depends on my mood2. I love clothes and care about the way I look. 3. I love a good deal4. My husband is a good good man to put up with my clothing habits.



Katie asked: Were you afraid/nervous to have kids? Why/why not?

Erica answered: Yes and No.

No - Before I was actually pregnant I wasn't afraid. I grew up the oldest girl in a family with 5 other siblings. My little sister is severely handicap and while at home it was my job to care for her. Because of this responsibility (along with being the oldest girl = slightly bossy but very responsible) it seemed as though I had cared for a child/children all my life. In fact, when I was first married I had told my husband that I didn't want kids for at least 3 years so I could have a break.

Yes - Once I was actually pregnant I got a little nervous. I distinctly remember one Saturday while pregnant, that Bret and I played Super Mario Bros. 3 on our old school NES system all day. He was wearing a Lego shirt and I was wearing a shirt that had the phrase "Squeeze Me" with two lemon slices on the front (I swear to you I didn't get the double meaning..I just liked the green shirt with the yellow lemons. It wasn't until a coworker of mine pointed it out that I got it). I remember wondering how in the world we would be parents when we were (are?) so immature?! At first I kinda joked with Bret about my thoughts, but as I pondered on them a bit more (you know...when it wasn't my turn to play) I realized that I was going to be responsible for another human being...and that's when fear and nervousness greeted me with a huge slap in the face.

I will say however, that even after having 2 kids it's still pretty scary when I stop and think about my responsibility to these two little people. I think it's okay to feel that way, in fact if you don't feel that way, that's when I would worry. Those feelings keep us in check and make us want to do better, which in turn make us better parents, people and role models to our kids.


Katie asked: People say blogging is narcissistic. How do you respond?

Erica answered: Narcissism describes the trait of excessive self-love or being self absorbed. So I'd say HECK YES!! Hello....my blogs title is "Erica's bloggity blog"...so pretty sure it's not a blog about Silly Sally or Debbi Downer? It's all about ME, ME, ME!!!

I initially started my blog as an outlet for the bazillion things going on in my head and to let family and friends know what's going on in our lives. It was faster for me and more convenient then picking up a phone and talking. So I was being selfish. I was writing about my thoughts and my kids. I'm so self absorbed!

I have met so many wonderful people who inspire me (see all about me) and who give me creative ideas. It makes a hard day I am having a bit better to know that someone else out there can relate.

I enjoy witty, sarcastic humor and so many of the blogs I read out there contain that. I love being able to have my own little space of the great WWW where I can write whatever I want, whenever I want.

Now I'm pretty sure those people who say blogging is narcissistic didn't mean it the way I just interpreted it. I am sure said people don't blog themselves or they would realize that it's a sort of positive narcissism. Yes we write about our lives and our thoughts because...well, that is what/who we are, but the blogging world is what you make of it. You can allow your blog to be just about you and write post solely for comments of praise and recognition, which would make it be something of a negative narcissistic nature. But I tend to think, at least for me and the blogs I read our purpose for blogging is different than that. We write to keep record, to share and communicate to like minded people out there.

Blog on I say...BLOG ON!





And then she asked me:



Erica asked: Homemade Mac n Cheese or Kraft?

Katie answered: You probably innocently threw this question in without really thinking about the serious and weighty thought required to answer this. You see, Kraft Mac n Cheese is my secret guilty pleasure. When the ear doctor isn't home for dinner I find myself gleefully skipping toward the food storage closet to find that precious blue box of goodness. I make the whole thing and gloriously slurp the finished product out of the pot I used to boil the noodles. No need to dirty a bowl! On the other hand Homemade is creamy and I don't feel nearly as guilty about serving it to my man as a dinner. I put crumbly crunchies on top and it is Delicious.

For me, I can't pick between the two. They are the yin and yang to my cheese comfort food cravings. The world wouldn't function properly without the two in a perfect symbiotic balance.


Erica asked: I've always wanted red hair (boy would I look fugly with red hair). Some stylists have strong opinions about what colors red heads can wear and what colors they can't. Do you think wearing purple or light pink is tacky and clashes or is it fashionable?

Katie answered: OK, so here you've once again touched on a topic I have a passionate opinion about. And something that a lot of non-red heads don't realize. There is more than a single complexion for a red head. Some look great in pink (my little sister), some look dead (me). Also, purple? I love wearing purple. In fact, today is a purple-tacular day. Just like with everyone else, you have to find what works on an individual level. The blanket denial of one color of clothing to an entire hair color demographic is just silly and shows lack of experience.

That being said, I am almost always wearing green.


Erica asked: Why do you allow for comments on your blog? How do you feel about people who throw fits when they get low comments on a post?

Katie answered: First part, why I allow comments. Well, to be perfectly honest, I like knowing that someone out there was in some way affected by what I wrote. It's a little ego booster. Also, I like getting the feedback and it's interesting to learn which topics my readers are interested in (buying houses, apparently). Thirdly, I find myself discovering new favorite blogs through my comments. I think that's how I found you, Erica. I do not like the rude, mean spirited comments that I get really frequently, but I've learned to take the bad with the good. Sometimes the mean comments are right and it lets me really think about what I'm writing. Sometimes they aren't and I just have to let them roll off my back. I've just learned to be quick with the delete button and not think about it again.

Second part, feeling bad about low comments. I didn't know that people threw fits over this. Do they really? It used to bum me out when I took the time to write a really personal and what I felt well written post about my life and I'd get no comments. And then the next day I'd right about eating a sundae and McDonalds and I'd be flooded with responses. It was then that I realized that most people will respond to something that is quick and easy to digest. Something that they can relate to. I write the good posts for me now and don't care if I get a single comment on those entries.







How would you answer any of the questions asked?

Tis the season

Last night we, along with probably every other American family, spend the night filling our houses with the pungent aroma of vinegar.

We always dye eggs.

And I love it.

Well, we started the process by putting setting out all the bowls and putting one of those little color tabs in each. Am I the only one who, at this point, is reminded of those teeth-scum/red dentist tabs? You remember the ones. In kindergarten they'd come in and make you chew one up to show who was brushing well and who wasn't, thus beginning the self-conscious paranoia in each little child's heart that something is wrong with their teeth?

Oh? Just me....Let's move on.


As usual, we just used the normal PAAS kit, and I only have 1 beef with it. Do we really need 3 different shades of blue in the kit? Since when is "denim" a color that is so basic it needs to be included in the standard kit of colors?

And here is my second beef with the standard PAAS kit: only 1 wire/dipper thing? Do they really think there are a lot of people out there dying Easter eggs ALONE? Isn't it kind of a family/roommate/group activity? Don't those little dippers cost like .03 cents each? Why so stingy? I mean, the ear doctor and I actually had to share it while we waited.

The thing I love the most is watching the ear doctor come up with new and funny ways to dye the eggs. While I love to just make bright patterns, he always makes them into something. This year what did he make? Well just take a look...this are across the top:

From left to right, his are: a CU egg (do you have any idea how much work it takes to get brown right?), a "club promoter" egg (complete with pink fitted button down shirt and cuff-links), an anatomically correct brain, and a plumber wearing his DENIM jeans too low...

Another brainchild

Saturday morning the ear doctor sat bolt upright in bed. His first words to me were not the usual, "good morning my sweet love. I am the luckiest man in the world to wake up to such a beautiful, creative, smart, funny girl"

Oh no.


This morning he said, "I have the best idea for a blog!"

Blinking off the heavy sleep weighing down my lids I thought I'd lost my mind. This is my husband, right? The one who sort of teases me about writing a blog? The one who himself promised to answer my reader's questions on my blog only to sweep the offer under the rug? He's now having dreams about starting a blog and already has a well-defined, cohesive topic the likes of which my blog will probably never be able to attain? As the world SPUN OFF IT'S AXIS?!?!?!

So I replied, "oh, yeah? What is it?"

With a look of pride in his eyes, he responds, "It's called Limey Lubbers....you know, like pirate-speak for lime lovers? It'll be a whole blog about things that are good with limes!" (pause, during which I scratch my head) He continues, "And I already have the first post! DIET COKE!"


To which I reply, "Oh, really? What are you going to write about diet coke and limes, my sweet?. . . oh, wait, you mean the whole post will just be 'Diet Coke' with no other explanation"


"Yeah, it'll just be a list of things that are good with limes."






Something tells me that the ear doctor may not quite have a grasp of what is required to have a successful blog? Although, until I'm in the position to have a million readers chomping at the bit for every pearl of wisdom doled out from my fingertips, maybe I'm not the right person to judge....

What I could do with this house

Well, the ear doctor and I are about 90% convinced that we'll be buying a house this year. I am excited/nervous/overwhelmed with this prospect. So, until we really get our acts together and save up some dinero, I'm going to show you houses here in the Denver area that I would love to get my hands on.

Starting with this lovely:

According to Zillow (not the most reliable or accurate website), for $229,000 we could get this great old 4 bed/1.5 bath/1763 sq ft house in a great up-and-coming neighborhood. The kitchen needs and upgrade and the yard is tiny, but don't you think the potential is irresistible?

Something must be drastically wrong with it to be listed at this price.....

Kicks

Sometimes the ear doctor goes on food kicks. In the past these kicks have been the following: anything with chipotle flavor, chocolate chip cookies, and pastrami sandwiches. Right now? He's favoring scoop-shaped chips and bottled salsa.

BOTTLED SALSA, people!!!

Personally, I'd almost rather eat a chip plain than to smear it with overly-tomato flavored pre-made salsa. But the nostalgic flavor of Pace Picante is what he wants. I guess it reminds him of his high school friends, or his eating style in the dorms...a more innocent and carefree time.

And, really, it's OK with me. If he wants Pace, he can have the whole jar to himself.

Do you like pre-packaged salsa? Wouldn't you rather me slice up some fresh veggies and make a delicious pico de gallo?


I guess we all know what I'd prefer...

The big day

When you are nervous how to you act? Shy? Quiet? Reserved?

Not me.

I get kind of loud goofy and excitable. My heart starts racing and the thin filter between my brain and mouth completely dissolves and I am left spurting out every thought that drifts by. Which typically is a bad thing. Especially when I'm being evaluated or judged. When I know someone is trying to figure out if they think I'm good enough or not I become the class clown. It's kind of horrible, really.

Today is one of those days and I am already starting to feel the please-laugh-at-my-jokes bubbles percolate in the pit of my stomach.

But, I'm lucky to have a husband who understands this about me. And wants to help. How do I know this?

He got up early this morning to make me the full, grand-slam breakfast at home. Eggs, bacon, brown sugar pancakes will all help me anchor those bubbles in my stomach.

Blogger to Blogger

I've been blogging for a long time now and one thing has frustrated me. I get to "know" these other cool bloggers, but it kind of feels one sided. I never get to ask any questions of them. I figured that other people might feel that way too, so I've decided to start this new thing.

Each Wednesday I'm going to have a different blogger answer 3 questions that I've been wondering about them and they'll do the same of me. Should be cool, right? I think so.

First up? Janssen from Everyday Reading

Janssen asked: As a married LDS couple, do you get asked a lot about when you're going to have kids? Because people sometimes say to us that we probably get asked that all the time, but I've only ever had ONE person ask me when we're going to have kids and it was at work!

Katie answered: Actually, I'm pretty surprised and impressed that I don't get asked this very often. Maybe people have received the memo that it's none of their business and if I want to talk about it I will? Or maybe they just think that because I'm older than 23 we might be trying and there might be something wrong with us and it would be really rude to bring it up?

Just for the record (as far as I know) there isn't anything wrong with us. We are just waiting until we feel like it is the right time for us. I actually have a really serious fear that when we are feelin it we'll find out that there is something wrong. Sometimes it keeps me up at night.

Janssen asked: What's your one favorite material non-necessary possession?

Katie answered: Hmmmm, this is a really great question. The first thing that comes to mind is my violin. I love playing it and feel so lucky to have had such awesome parents who invested in my musical education. Whenever I think about my apartment burning down, this is the first thing I think I'd want to run and save.

Janssen asked: You've made me wish on a regular basis that I lived near you so I could invite myself over for dinner and partake of your gourmet offerings. What do you like to cook/bake the most, and will you please give me the recipe so I can pretend I'm at your house?

Katie answered: Wow, what a nice compliment! Asking someone what they like to cook/bake the most is like asking which kid they prefer. Impossible to answer. However, these two cake recipes are so mind blowing that I look for ever opportunity to make them. Seriously, they are both AMAZING! Coconut with lemon curd and Chocolate with Fleur de Sel Caramel.

And now to switch sides...

Katie asked: Did your parents read to you as a kid? How do you plan to share your love of reading with your future kids (if you choose to have them)?

Janssen answered: My parents did read to me a lot. My mom read aloud to me (I'm the oldest) starting when I was about five. I remember her sitting next to me on my twin bed reading the Little House on the Prairie books for hours while my younger sister fell asleep in the next bed over. In fact, my mom read aloud to me so much that year, that she lost her voice completely for about a year and although its fine now, she can't sing very much anymore because she loses her voice too easily. I hope she thinks it was worth it! My dad would occasionally read a book outloud to me and my siblings, if my mom wanted a break for a few weeks. Although he read only a fraction as many to us as my mom did, they are very memorable and still number among my favorites: Cheaper by the Dozen, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Five Children & It.

Also, I was homeschooled at least part time until I went to college and my mom read individually with each of us everyday. The books we read at night were usually more light, while during the day we read more classics, like Jane Eyre, Treasure Island, and a Tale of Two Cities. Most of the classics I've read were with my mom, outloud.

I plan to do the same thing with my kids - read to them all together at nights and then individually during the day, if we homeschool. If we don't homeschool, I'll read to together at night, but probably not during the day.

Katie asked: Close your eyes and hold our your hand. What do you most hope to be in your hand when I tell you to open your eyes back up?

Janssen answered: If you've read my blog for even one second, you probably know how much I love love financial security. So I'm going to say $100,000,000. Do you have $100,000,000 to give me, Katie?!

If that's a no, I'll settle for a never ending gift card to Ross.

Katie asked: People say blogging is narcissistic. How do you respond?

Janssen answered: I can sort of see where people who think that are coming from - why would I think that people care at all what books I read this year or what kind of cake I had for my birthday or what my new living room paint looks like? But on the other hand, for most blogs, there is the chance to respond, to offer opinions, and to really connect with people. I mean, isn't writing a book MORE narcissistic? You expect people to pay for it and you have no where to tell the author what you really think about it.

And lets be honest, half the people who rant on about how stupid blogging is and how they'll never ever ever do it, eventually get their own blogs and then ask us all to come read. Who's narcissistic now?

Now it's your turn. How would you answer one of our questions?

Night Woes

Last night, while surrounded by darkness I sat bolt upright in bed. I threw my balled fists up to the 10 foot ceiling and cried out in frustration.


I'm afraid we bought the wrong bed.


The first large purchase the ear doctor and I made together a little over 2 years ago was our expensive, designer king sized bed. It was luscious with the pillow top and pretty gold embroidery. In the store it seemed to promise years of restful slumber. I had visions of the two of us swathed in white silk pajamas sleeping on angelic clouds.

My dreams have not been met and I'm getting really ticked that we spent such a bundle of our beautiful and fleeting wedding gift money.

As I sat up in bed the radio commercial for the sleep number bed flitted through the transoms of my mind. Oh, how glorious would it be to simply pump more air into this bed to get a firmer, more supportive base? How dreamy to be able to fiddle around every night until the perfect combination was met?

But that ideal will not be ours for years to come. How, dear friends, do I remedy this situation. My uber expensive, big, soft bed-of-my-dreams is TOO soft. My spine has turned into a noodle. HELP!

Reality Check

Wednesday night the ear doctor and I met a dear friend in Denver for dinner. We went to one of my favorite restaurants (Nine75) because I felt like I need to indulge in my guiltiest food pleasure.

Mac & Cheese.

Honestly, if I didn't think my weight would balloon up to a million pounds I think I might eat Mac & Cheese everyday. I love it so much that I find it impossible to not use capital letters when writing it out. mac and cheese....not nearly dignified as this delicious delicacy requires.

When my casserole dish filled with baked, spicy Mac & Cheese arrived I took one bite and I was in heaven. But upon taking the second bite I thought to myself, "well, this is good, but it sure could use a little salt"

Looking around on our table I realized there was no salt. Thinking that, perhaps we were just seated at the single, forgotten, salt-free table I scanned the dining room to locate my seasoning of choice.

It was nowhere to be found.


Honestly, I think not providing salt and pepper table side is about the most cocky thing a restaurant can do. Do they really think that every single night, ever single chef on the line is seasoning things perfectly? I can guarantee that,unless you are a 5 star restaurant, they are not.


So freakin get yourself a slice of humble pie and put a shaker or two on the table!

One or the other

Turns out I might be a psycho at night.

Almost every morning of my married life I have awoken to the ear doctor's shell-shocked expression and the re-telling of a mid-night horror story starring yours truly.

Sometimes I'm told about how I fell asleep on the couch at 9:45 and at 10:34 I woke up, gave him the death stare and in a seemingly irritated fit stomped my feet off to the bedroom.

Or I find out that in the middle of the night when the poor, poor ear doctor was shivering with cold he attempted to procure the tiniest scrap of covers and was met with my imposing white knuckled duvet death grip.

And then there's the time when, upon returning from a scary, middle of the night, low blood sugar-induced candy binge he is just getting comfortable again and thanking the gods above for not letting him die his usually kind and cheery wife begins to flop around like an irritated dying fish , thus immaturely communicating her displeasure with his slight coming-back-to-bed motion.

And please, let's not forget the times when he decides to stay up watching TV and I am in selfishly splayed across the dead center of the bed, denying him his requisite space in which to drift to slumberland.



And the crazy thing is that I never remember a single occurrence. Every time I'm told these things I'm wide eyed with shock and filled with disbelief. Because, really, all those sins committed by the same person? Really? It seems a bit far fetched, doesn't it?


So either I'm a raging circadian rhythm induced she-devil or the ear doctor has the most fantastic nocturnal imagination.

Not as great as the real thing....

The stone in my wedding ring is the same that my husband's grandmother wore for 50 plus years of a pretty picture perfect marriage. When he decided to ask me to marry him, his lovely grandmother who I love as much as my own grandparents offered the stone to him.

I can't tell you how touched I was to receive such a personal gift. I'm still a bit overwhelmed.

As a result, I make sure that I only wear the ring places I am sure there is absolutely no risk of loosing it/having it stolen. I don't wear it on vacation, I don't wear it hiking or camping, and I slip it off whenever I go into a sketchy neighborhood. Basically, I don't wear it unless I know I'll be sleeping in my own bed.

Which is why it would be nice to get a back-up ring. This little beauty would be a nice stand in....

Don't you think?

(seen on Bunnyshop)

Tell me what to do

Not that I'm actually going to take financial advice from strangers on the Internet, but I have a really good question for you today.

The ear doctor and I have been AGONIZING over this. Well, actually, the ear doctor is very cool, collected and normal about this while I am o-b-s-e-s-s-i-n-g.


Should we continue our fully 401k contribution or save up every penny to try to buy a house this year.

On the one hand, shares have never been cheaper to pick up. In my (probably faulty) reasoning, if we get these babies cheap now they should be worth a lot in the future, right? Also, I always hear that every dollar contributed before the age of 30 is worth like 10 dollars contributed after 30 (or something like that).

On the other, Pres Obama is dangling a $8,000 dollar carrot out in front of my outstretched grubby little fingertips. I mean, how can I not at least TRY to buy a house when he's offering to throw that kind of cash into the pot?!?!?




How on earth is a normal person supposed to make this kind of decision?!?!?

Deep thoughts

Sunday morning I made cream cheese-chocolate chip stuffed French Toast. It was so rich and delicious that I felt horrible serving it to my diabetic husband first thing in the morning. But, he loved it.

Every time I make something we always critique it and suggest ways it could have been better. I know a lot of people might think this is harsh, but I love doing it. Part of me is a perfectionist and the other part is food critic. This is how yesterday's evaluation went:

Me: Well, that was pretty good.

Ear doctor: Yeah, it was awesome. I loved it.

Me: The only thing I think I'd do different is sub out the old, crusty french bread for something more substantial...like some buttery slices of brioche.

Ear doctor: (rolls his eyes) Brioche has got to be the most pretentious of all the breads.

Me: Really? You think so? What about Ciabatta?

Ear doctor: No way! Ciabatta is rustic Italian country bread...

Me: (interrupting) and Brichoe isn't an old French country bread?

Ear doctor: Well, Ciabatta is like New Money and Brioche is Old Money. Ciabatta just recently got all this fame and prestige and doesn't know how to wear it as well. It's all about flaunting it. It's not pretentious. Brioche belongs to an exclusive country club.


So now you know

An Ode to Santa Magita

Today my little sister turns 25. I can't believe she is already that old. To me she'll always be about 11. But it doesn't really make sense for an 11 year old to have a 2 year old daughter and be almost 8 months pregnant with her second.

So, in order to properly honor her, I would like to dedicate this wonderful montage to her:

Please note the volume of Christmas cards my parents receive each year. They are very popular.

My love affair with peeps begins.

She admires my kung fu skillz

No one can rock a horizontal stripe intersected by a diagonal piece of lace like the Magster!

Maggie had to wear a bow in her hair like this because people always thought she was a boy with this haircut. Also, please note her awesome acid wash jeans. (my personal awkward period begins)

Yes, we are posing with a paper skeleton around our shoulders. Nothing to see here.

I spent about 3 hours doing her hair like this.

I bought her this dress for her birthday one year. I usually always get her clothes for her birthday/Christmas.



She was a very demure bride

We don't handle heat or exercise very well.



She's a great mom.

Happy b-day baby!

Free luncher

I admit it.

Sometimes I go to a meeting because they've catered it. The topic? Not exactly central to my job description. The speaker? A bit boring and pretentious. The food?Free? I'm in!

And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who is lured out of the semi-privacy of their personal cubical by the siren call of free Quiznos. How can I be sure of this? Well, after 5+ years of crack investigative observation I've begun to be able to spot the signs of the free-loader-luncher.

The most obvious sign is the inevitable post-carb-not-at-all-interested snooze that overtakes the offender about 20 minutes into the presentation. Sometimes I am just BLOWN away by another person's blatant mid-meeting naps. I look around and notice that someone has completely konked out and I am simultaneously shocked and impressed.

Shocked because, well, everyone can see you asleep buddy! Aren't you worried about your reputation? Don't you feel the tiniest bit of obligation to pay attention when you've just snarfed their free lunch offering?

However, it is a bit impressive that they are so sure of themselves that something like that doesn't even register on their embarrass-o-meter. I bet they wouldn't even blink if they found they'd had spinach in their teeth for an hour or their fly was down. What would it be like to be that laid back? I have no idea.

It really should go

If the US suddenly decided to change from a 5-day work week to a 4-day work week, which day would you throw out?

I'd pick Thursday

fire up the hog

This weekend the ear doctor and I were grocery shopping together. As I've mentioned before, I really don't like grocery shopping. It's better if the ear doctor comes with me. Especially since he's taken to playing this game where it puts random things in our cart when I'm not looking. I'll be innocently walking along and look down to see a package of chicken livers in my cart. Or an industrial size can of artichoke hearts. Or a wedge of overpriced cheese...oh wait, I'm the one who slips that in.



Anyway, this week I was pretty pumped because he hadn't been able to sneak one by me. That is, until I reached into my purse to get my wallet to pay. Turns out he slipped me a flyer for this beauty:





Well, he IS turning 30 this year, so the sky is the limit on presents, right? Oh, bonus, I can pay for it in 3 easy installments of $33!



I'm going to be the wife of the CENTURY!

Can my eyes smile too?

St. Patrick's Day and I have an interesting relationship. You see, my ancestry is actually from Scotland. My mother's maiden name was Laird, which is just about as Scottish as it gets. My grandparents have a Scottish coat of arms hanging on the wall.

I'm a Scot.

And, I'm not sure if most people realize it, but Scots and Irish are historically VERY different. Different geographic location, different religion, different language, different culture.

But when you have my coloring it's really hard to not to want to claim a little Irish-ness every March 17th....

What's a girl to do?

Bit by the gardening bug

I can't believe I've never told you about my awesome cousin-in-law Nancy! Because, really, she's very very cool. One of those people you sit down to meet and you just want to find out everything about her.

She and her husband had a summer long water fight that escalated to the point where he was in the front yard squirting her with the hose and she was standing at the second story window dumping buckets on him. FUN people.

One crucial thing about her that you need to know is that she collects garbage.

Not all garbage, just organic stuff because she is P-A-S-S-I-O-N-A-T-E about compost. Whenever I visit the ear doctor's grandma she has a small plastic bag by the sink for any organic trash. When it fills up she twists it shut and gives it to Nancy.



So when I saw this little beauty on this awesome blog I thought of her:

It's a little under the counter compost machine!!!

Now, I know this little guy is probably too little for Nancy since she has a big beautiful garden in her backyard, but for me and my container gardening it would be SOOOOOO awesome! If anyone has $300 laying around and wants to get me this I would be EVER so appreciative.

Ummm, that was a little anticlimactic

Alright, HGTV, I have a bone to pick with you.

First, I spent the entire weekend on the look-out for your spies. The people who were trying to make sure that I'd be home when you wanted to surprise me with my dream home in Sonoma? Yeah, those people.

When, at 5:30 on Sunday evening (30 minutes before it aired here in Colorado) I figured that I wasn't the lucky giveaway winner I excitedly sat down on the couch with my man to find out who the lucky winner would be. Remember how we've decided to give up any TV on Sunday? Well, we decided to make an exception for you.

When we looked over the TV programming schedule and saw that the big reveal was only slotted for a half hour I was a little wary. I couldn't fathom how you were going to deliver that kind of news with only 30 minutes, but I trusted you. I gave you my FAITH.

However, as the special started and the clues to the winner's hometown started dropping I got really worried. It was 6:20 and you still hadn't surprised the winner yet! When there was only 6 minutes left of the show you FINALLY got the Cheryl Smith's home and gave her the good news. After 3 minutes of her excitement it was over.

That's it.

3 minutes of glory?!?!? Are you kidding me?!?!?

There are so many questions I wanted to ask her. So many things I wanted to know about the woman who will be living in MY house. Sitting on MY porch. Soaking in MY tub.

Your totally lack of creativity was so disappointing that I had to abruptly turn off my TV, grab the book I'm in the middle of and make my way to my MUCH less glamorous tub for a soothing bath. I had to relax away my utter annoyance at your totally ball-drop.

Get it together for next year.

Sincerely, Katie

Help!

Anyone else feeling horrible this week?

I've never felt so tired in my life. Our poor little dog has only had 2 walks this week (unacceptable). The ear doctor is sick at home, in our spare bedroom so as not to infect me. I'm just barely hanging on here.

Anyone want to come walk this adorable creature and make us some dinner?

Attempting to NOT be the most annoying person

Here's a question for all of you.

When you attend a dinner party do you help do the dishes after?

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I can't pin point the exact circumstance that tips me over the edge into feeling like it is OK to sit and keep my hands out of scalding water. Sometimes it just doesn't seem like the right thing to do, and other times it seems perfectly alright. Sometimes I can tell the hostess genuinely doesn't want my help.


It's really weird, because whenever anyone offers to help me clean up afterward I always love it. So using that logic, I should always be the first to jump up, grab a scrubbie and get to work. Because, I seriously don't mind dishes at all.



(Except for last night when I just couldn't bring myself to do anything besides sit my tired potato-sack-of-a-body down on the couch and watch Idol....BTW....I'm I the only person in America who finds this person so annoying they want to poke their eyeballs out every time they see him? )

So back to the question at hand, is it ALWAYS good manners to help someone clean up after a dinner party, or are the circumstances where its alright to let them sit?

Puffy Eyes

When I was little I had a recurring nightmare.

In my dream a line of puppies would climb up the ladder to an old, shiny steel slide, take a ride down and then break their leg. They'd go to the hospital, get a cast and immediately climb back up to the top of the slide for another grisly ride. They'd do it over and over and no matter what I did they wouldn't stop. Terrifying.

I don't usually have vivid dreams, so when I do they really stick with me. Which is why I am exhausted this morning.

Last night at 3:37 am I found myself awake in bed, sobbing out of control. As the tears streamed down my face I gasped for breath and tried to push away the frightening dream I'd just had.


I dreamt that my parents took me and the ear doctor to Disneyworld. We had a great trip, but they went back a day early. On the morning of our last day, our parent-free day, the concierge from one of the resorts we were walking by pulled me in and gave me a package. There were no identifying marks on the package, so I was a little excited.

When I opened the box everything went all wrong.

It was a letter from my mom saying that she was leaving my dad. They were separating and she gave a whole list of reasons why. It was horrible. The terror of my family breaking down the seam was so gut wrenching that my pillow was soaked before I even realized it was only a dream.

I'm so glad that I had someone I love so much laying next to me. Before I was married when this happened I found myself wandering around the house in the middle of the night trying to tell my brain to let it go, to find a happier path to dream down.

Daylight savings can eat my shorts.


The end.

That grass is greener

Sometimes I look out my office window and enviously watch the grounds maintenance people doing their job. And I know, as a person who has had so many opportunities for education and privilege, I'm not "supposed to" envy manual labor, but I do. Sometimes, on beautiful clear warm days like today, I get so jealous of people who get to work outside, their hands in the dirt, making things grow.

As I type away, sitting in my ergonomically designed chair, breathing recycled, reconditioned air I pine for a fresh breeze to come my way.

As I pack up my things at the end of the day I realize that my body isn't stiff from hard work, but creaky from inactivity.

And when I get home my brain has been wheeling so fast all day that I feel exhausted. Not the good, man I just worked so physically hard that I'm dropping with fatigue. The bad, I can't even use my brain enough to figure out why my DVR didn't get this week's episode of House.

Right after I wrote this post I watched this talk and it BLEW MY MIND.

Birthmom Buds Project

After having to reschedule multiple times, our little group of girls were FINALLY able to complete our birthmom buds service project! It was so AWESOME! For the activity we first sat around a big long table and talked about adoption and what it meant for someone to place their baby with another family. It felt like every word I was saying was really important and that I was actually teaching a really important idea to these beautiful little girls.


I don't know how you parents do it. There is so much to tell these little people about. So much they don't understand. What a HUGE responsibility you have on a daily basis!


After I stumbled through our little discussion we made thank you notes for the organizers of the Birthmom Buds program. Please note the tiny little purple-blanket-wrapped baby in the upper right-hand corner of the picture. It was REALLY adorable and I wish I'd got a better pic of it.






Then, we pulled out our needles and thread and sewed buttons on these bags that I'd already made. Lesson for everyone out there: if you are teaching 10 year olds to do anything with a tread and needle it is SO much easier to thread the needle and tie the knot in the end yourself. It's a bit beyond the capability of the average little girl.

Next up? fill all the bags with the donated goodies. The girls LOVED this part. I had them make a ton of piles of stuff all over the floor and they went from pile to pile adding things to their bags. Over and over I heard, "oh, this is fun like shopping" (girls after my own heart)

Jaidyn loved these packs of gum because they were REALLY thin. Whoever sent them, they were a HUGE hit! I even let her take a pack home with her because she was so over the moon.

Last, but not least, I introduced these girls to the beauty of the Polaroid camera. And, they LOVED it. As soon as the film spit out the front of the camera they ran over to me and said, "shake it, shake it" At which point I broke out into a little Outkast. But I'm pretty sure only my friend and adult group helper Lashelda go my reference.

Due to the unruly chaos during the actual activity I didn't have a chance to take a picture with all of the items displayed. Please disregard the ugly crappy carpet and the matching color wall backdrop.

Two of the items in the photo are of particular note because they were donated by awesome Etsy sellers. First, the awesome green floral picture frame on the far left hand side. 7 of these frames were sent to me by the kind Heather Egley. She's got some Crazy Adorable stuff in her shop, so check it out. Second, the black polka-dot notebook leaning against the bag just left of middle. These are the cutest hand-bound journals around and Leslie sells them and other creative papergoods in her etsy shop, BurgundyDistrict. Thanks both of you for your thoughtful and amazing donations!

Usually we have 7 little girls show up to our activity and only 4 came last night. At first it really bummed me out that 3 of them didn't get a chance to participate in this activity. Now I realize that I'm grateful that the 4 that came had a great time and genuinely learned to love serving others.

Thank you so much to all of you who took the time to participate in our activity. It made all the difference in the world, to me personally and to these girls. When I told them that strangers had sent me all this stuff to fill the bags they were shocked.

But, really, you aren't strangers. At least not to me.

Only friends would offer support like that. So, I guess what I'm saying is this: Thanks pal!

4th folder, 4th picture

My awesome aunt tagged me, so here's the 4th picture in my 4th folder:

It is an ADORABLE picture of my niece Alexa when she was participating in a horse show. This is a few years old because she's now 14!!!!!!

I can't believe she's that old. Since they've moved to London I've missed so much of her growing up!

Mamma needs a new pair of shoes

Lately I've had a few friends tell me that I am crazy for not making any money off my blog. And up to this point I didn't think there was anyone out there who was actually willing to pay me something for my time.

To be perfectly honest, I still seriously doubt it.


But it's got me thinking. When does it make sense to start garnering an income from one's blog? And if you do start taking money is there an unseen force compelling you to write more, or to alter your style or content?

I kind of like the freedom of writing whatever and whenever I want. I like knowing that I could just drop off the blogosphere without any repercussions (ahem, COURTNEY).

But, lets call it like it is, I'm not the type of genuine artiste who requires freedom to explore the craft of the written word. I've got no hoity toity morals that prevent me from being paid for my talents.



Lots to think about..

Holy Cow

Last night I made Individual Sticky Toffee Puddings for dessert and they BLEW MY MIND. Seriously, I'm still trying to scrape the gray matter off the underside of my microwave. These cakes are BARELY harder to make than box brownies.



I don't usually post recipes, but when I don't I get all kinds of complaints that I'm selfish and rude for not sharing the wealth. So, here you go.

My personal changes to the recipe/directions:
1) At the last minute I realized that I was out of vanilla (ARGH!), but to my surprise they were just fine without it. Lucky me.
2) Also, the recipe says to serve with ice cream or creme Anglaise but you don't need it.
3) I used a cap full of imitation rum flavor and it was perfect. We don't drink, so I hate having to run out and buy liquor just for a random baking experiment.

(photo credit: cook's illustrated)

Ingredients


Pudding Cakes
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (6 1/4 ounces, plus more for dusting the ramekins)
1 1/4 cups whole dates , pitted, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar(5 1/4 ounces), light or dark
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted


Toffee Sauce
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
1 cup packed brown sugar (7 ounces), light or dark
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon rum



Instructions


1. For the pudding cakes: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour eight 4-ounce ramekins and line bottom of each with round of parchment paper cut to fit. Set prepared ramekins in large roasting pan lined with clean dish towel. Bring kettle or large saucepan of water to boil over high heat.
2. Combine half of dates with water and baking soda in glass measuring cup (dates should be submerged beneath water) and soak for 5 minutes. Drain dates, reserving liquid, and transfer to medium bowl. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in another medium bowl.
3. Process remaining dates and brown sugar in food processor until just blended, about five 1-second pulses. Add reserved soaking liquid, eggs, and vanilla and process until smooth, about 5 seconds. With food processor running, pour melted butter through feed tube in steady stream. Transfer this mixture to bowl with softened dates.
4. Gently stir dry mixture into wet mixture until just combined and date pieces are evenly dispersed. Distribute batter evenly among prepared ramekins. Fill roasting pan with enough boiling water to come halfway up sides of ramekins, making sure not to splash water into ramekins. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil, crimping edges to seal. Bake pudding cakes until puffed and small holes appear on surface, about 40 minutes. Immediately remove ramekins from water bath and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
5. For the toffee sauce: Meanwhile, melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in brown sugar until smooth. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture looks puffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly pour in cream and rum, whisk just to combine, reduce heat, and simmer until frothy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover to keep warm, and set aside.
6. To serve, invert each ramekin onto plate or shallow bowl, remove ramekin, and peel off parchment paper lining. Divide toffee sauce evenly among cakes and serve immediately, accompanied by crème anglaise or vanilla ice cream.

ramma-lamma-ding-dong

This weekend the ear doctor and I helped out a friend the best way we know how. By lending a hand.


One of the ear doctor's dear friends had to go through something I hope I never have to experience again. The heartache of love lost. Instead of putting the finishing touches on her wedding plans she found herself Saturday morning packing her belongings and moving out of the house she thought would be hers forever. And she seemed to have it all under control.

I would have been a mess.


As we quickly moved box after box I thought about the heartaches I've experienced in my life...

...recollected the way a boy I really really liked used me as a friend and tossed me aside when it was inconvenient

...remembered the exact moment someone I loved rejected me, accused me of not being spiritual enough for him

...recalled the feeling of cool grass under my fingers that I enjoyed a second before realizing that the boy sitting next to me was dropping a bomb right into the lap of my sky blue capri pants


And the I remembered something my mom told me when I was 14. She said, most relationships don't work out. Most people date many times before they find someone to commit to. The ending of a relationship doesn't mean that either person isn't valuable or great. It usually doesn't mean that they or you did something wrong. It simply means that the combination of the two wasn't a good fit.

And judging from my personal experience she is dead on. All of the past guys in my life weren't a good fit for me. I'm so glad they realized it and had the courage to break up with me. They are all amazing people and I cherish what I learned from spending time from them.

And even more, I cherish that they let me go so I could find the ear doctor, love of my life, the yin to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly.


I sincerely hope this is the situation our friend.