TGIF!

Happy Friday Friends!

Two days without dessert--yep, I'm reporting success.  If you know me, you know that dessert is my love, my passion, and surly responsible for the cushion I've got going on in the rear area! :)  But as I wrote the other day, I am giving up desserts for Lent.

Yesterday I hosted my moms group for "Coffee Hour(s)" at our home.  It was great!  We figured out there were eleven toddlers and their parents.  The kiddos had fun exploring all of Abby's toys, Abby did a pretty good job with the sharing of her toys, there were good eats and drinks, and the conversation flowed.  I am so blessed to have them all in our life.  They've made this thing called motherhood much nicer.

Tonight we've gotten a babysitter and are having dinner with a couple we've never "dated" before.  I'm somewhat nervous but I'm sure it's just first time jitters.  I really like the guy--he works with Jason at Nugget, and every time I've gotten to hang out with his wife, I've felt the whole time we could be great friends.  Now will be the time to see if we're right, huh? :)  Anyway, it's kind of exciting to have something new to look forward to for the evening.

Here's to a great weekend, huh?! :)
Hope everyone out there is having success at what their working on too.
Cheers, Katie :)

Lent...and I'm not even Catholic!

I grew up around a lot of Catholics.  My dad's family is all Catholic, Aaron and I were baptised in the Catholic church, and we grew up in Esparto, which has a large Mexican community and lean towards the Catholic faith.  I have many memories of the ash on the foreheads of my friends and their parents.  And many memories of talk of what people were giving up for Lent.

I've always been intrigued.  Not really because I wanted to give anything up.  And not really because I was jealous of the tradition.  Just curious.  As I've gotten older, an adult, I've learned of a lot of friends who have practiced the tradition of restraint and restriction for their faith.  But I've also found that there are a group of people out there who "practice" Lent to better themselves, with no religious reasons at all.

A couple of bloggers I read have been talking about their goals for Lent and it got me thinking.  Could I participate this year?  There are definitely things I could work on, use forty days to practice, and make positive changes in my life.  And even though the religion I was raised in doesn't observe Lent, I respect and appreciate the idea of giving up something to bring you closer to your faith and beliefs.  And while the goal I have chosen will not make the world a better place for anyone (except maybe me), I like the idea of reminding myself that I am a strong person, able to take on these little goals and be successful, which will/can translate to encouraging me to take on bigger roles and goals that will affect and make better the world I live in.

OK...I'm giving up desserts.  I mean the desserts we all know and love.  Candy.  Cake.  Ice cream.  For the next forty days, desserts/sweets to me will include apples, pears and dates.  I will sweeten my life with the goodness that nature provides me.  And I'll be honest...it won't hurt the weight loss goals that have nothing to do with Lent! :)

Happy Wednesday!
Cheers, Katie :)

What I'm Loving Right Now

Well...lots of things.  I'm a lucky girl and I try to always be aware of this fact and thankful for all I have in my life.  But especially right now, I am thankful for my mom.  She should be getting to my house any minute to have a fun day with Abby.  Abby's missed her (she was gone this weekend) and was so excited it was Meemaw day.  And I'm looking outside and the sun is out and the sky is blue with some clouds and I just know that they are going to have an incredible day.

(at the zoo yesterday with friends Mariah and Sydney)

And because Mom and Abby are playing, I get to come to work, to a job I love with people who are great and clients who are fun.

Happy Tuesday!

Misc Details of my World

We're all sick.  Everyone said it would happen once Abby started school.  They laughed and teased and joked about all of our luck at health and how that was coming to an end.  I laughed right along with them--it's the nice thing to do, right?--but inside I was cheering our awesome immune systems and resilience...and hoping for a miracle.  Well, Abby finishes her second week of school in about an hour and, as of 655am this morning, when I left for work, Jason had coughed all night and was congested, I sounded like a 900 number with a cold and Abby has been sporting the greatest bunch of YUCK coming out of her nose for at least two days.  Fabulous.  Everyone wants to come over, right? :)

Well...I'm starring a three-day-weekend in the eyes and see NO PLANS.  If you know me, you know that rarely happens.  I'm going to use it to get all of our mojo back!  I'm going to cook big pots of soup and make sure we all get good naps and keep the house warm and wear "jammies" (Abby's current favorite word) as much as possible.  We will get better!  And we'll come out of this stronger.  Or I'll die trying! :)

On another note, I have a couple friends who are trying desperately to become parents.  Different ways, strategies, and paths for sure, but the end result is this wonderland called parenthood.  They have have been on my heart.  So heavy.  If you read this...you know who you are...know that I'm praying on you so hard right now.  For whatever reason, I am feeling you right now.  And you so deserve it.  You are amazing people and you make my heart sing and dance and you'll be perfect parents.  Just know you have a cheerleader in me and that you are in the fore-front of my mind and heart right now.

My world right now is consumed with all things healthy.  Well...I should amend that.  My world is consumed with preparing to be consumed with all things healthy.  Why is it that I just can't throw away a box of Runts?  I'll tell you why--my sweet hubby got them for me for Vday because he knew it was my favorite.  Basically, I'm finding myself consuming everything that shouldn't be in my path to start with.  Rather than destroy, throw away, waste, I'm cherishing and consuming it.  Oh well...as my dear friend Colleen said in her MUCH NEEDED AND MUCH APPRECIATED advice on my newest venture, "See everyday as an opportunity to succeed."  Love it!  Love it so much, I printed it out and have stuck it in as many as five different places.

And here's some pictures...hopefully it'll make up for the huge spots between my posts... :)

We went to the zoo last weekend with Rick and Debby.  So much fun!  Got to see the animals, specifically the lemurs, get their Valentines.  So cute.  Abby spent her fair share of time in the dump truck...had nothing to do with all the LIVE animals all around her but whatever.  Now that we're members, we can go whenever so we have a whole year to see the animals! :)  Dump truck it up baby!



And this is what she does with my mom!  I have to wash shoes every time she plays with Meemaw...and I love it!  We're so blessed that Abby and Mom get to play together and have such a great relationship.  And she does love to get dirty--they say it skips a generation... :)

Here's to a great weekend for everyone!
Cheers, Katie :)

Umm...food.

Food this week. If I write it down, it will come, right? I guess I'll still need to make it. And I guess it's a good time to start, since it's looking pretty lax.

Thursday: Jason and Abby on their own-book club
Friday: dinner out with Phil & Taryn
Saturday: dinner out for Ginger's birthday
Sunday: chicken and spinach enchiladas
Monday: pizza night
Tuesday: southwest mac and cheese
Wednesday: crockpot chicken

So that's the plan. If I can get this together, it'll be huge. I'm really anxious about getting dinner on the table quickly when Abby starts school.

Lastly, and this has nothing to do with food...The Middle is a great show. I love it!

Three Days In...

I LOVE resolutions. I love making them, following them, planning for them, imagining them changing my life forever... The only part I'm not so good at is the follow through. I've noticed on some of the blogs I read that they are making goals rather than resolutions, choosing words that will help drive them towards what they want to accomplish, and really seem to be expanding the whole resolution thing. I like it!

I habitually make the same resolutions every year...loose weight and budget. I'm sure there are other things I need to concentrate on. I mean, these are important but really, that's not all I have, is it?

My word for 2012: JOYFUL. I want to find joy in everything I do and see and experience. I just really want to experience life through joyful and thankful eyes.

Everything will follow. I need to sit back and let it happen. And I will participate joyously.
Happy 2012!

Back.

Well...I'm back. It's been a while but not because I haven't thought of this blog and what I have here. I like this place. My generous bosses gave Ashlee and I these nifty things called iPad's for Christmas. So fun...but also opens up a whole new opportunity for me in terms of this and here. And hopefully pictures. Like downloading them and posting them for the two people who read this. :)

So...here's to being back. I've missed you.