March Madness at My House

We are snowed in. Being the good wife that I am, I have consented to the all day ticket of March Madness.

If you want a sneak peek into my world, enjoy the following short clips of Mark's antics.



And yes, he talks to himself the whole time. And one more:

 

I hope you are having fun watching B-ball at your place as well. (-:

~Kathryn

I Have A Problem

It's official. I have zero self control.

Have I mentioned how much I love ice cream? Have I gone into the depths of my weakness? I love ice cream of all kinds: homemade, packaged, gelato, fro yo, shakes, custard, malts, and oh..... the sprinkles. I love me some sprinkles. Okay, I digress....

So, I stumbled upon a Facebook post earlier between two girls (Valerie) discussing flavors of ice cream. They happened to be discussing two of my favorites (Southern Blackberry Cobbler, and Birthday Cake). I chimed in with how, in the Blackberry Cobbler ice cream, I like to pick out the pie crust pieces and eat those. Which is great for me, and then when Mark goes to get some out of the carton (yes I eat my ice cream with a spoon and a carton - do NOT judge me), he is sorely disappointed and rightly frustrated because the Blackberry Cobbler has turned into a mere Blackberry swirl.

Shortly after this Facebook discussion on the wonder that is ice cream, one of the girl's husbands sent us an email. He works for Blue Bell. He let us know that pints of Blue Bell ice cream are on sale at our local grocery store for $1.00 each.

That's $1.00 for a whole pint of ice cream. With a limit of ten.

So what did I do? I started freaking out, told Mark, and we jumped in the car and high tailed it to the nearest grocery store.

We ran to the ice cream section to discover that, even though it was the first day of the sale, the ice cream was TOTALLY picked over. I mean like all that was left was vanilla. BOO. So, we asked the local clerk when they would be restocking, and planned to drive to the other grocery store. And then arose a silver lining. He said there are a couple of other end-caps that had Blue Bell. So, we ran to those and found more than vanilla. We found Cake and Ice Cream, we found Southern Blackberry Cobbler, we found Butter Crunch (Mark's fav - it's like butterfingers in vanilla), and Mint Chocolate Chip.

Normal people would have picked one and enjoyed the sale. Mark said, "How many should we get?" I responded that I wanted three of the Cake and Ice Cream and three Blackberry Cobbler. At this point I had claimed 60% of our total allotted amount. And I would have gone farther but Mark grabbed me and shook me. Okay not really. He just said he wanted some ice cream too, and I was like, what is this, a marriage? I thought it was all about me.

Anyway, he got three Butter Crunch and one Mint Chocolate Chip. He let me have my six. He's a sweetheart.

So then, fighting the frostbite that was growing on our hands, we ran to the cashier, handed him our loot and headed home to indulge.

Did I mention I started a health plan last week? Well, I did. So, let's just say I will be eating small portions of the ice cream.

Here we are, at home, with our ice cream, happy as clams. (How is a clam happy, anyway? What does that even mean?)

And yes, I wore those house shoes to the grocery store.

Remember how I have mentioned that the dogs refuse to get out of pictures that we take? Well, clearly nothing has changed.

I hope you, too, get some ice cream. It's okay to eat because I said so. (-:

~Kathryn

PS I would like to add that while I am typing this blog, Mark keeps yelling at the TV since the NCAA tournament is on, and then yelling things at me, since I'm clearly SO into the NCAA tournament. He came in here and told me something about some game. I don't really know what is going on, but I thought some of you might be able to relate to this disease that has overtaken men everywhere.

We Can't Move Forward Until You Mail it Back

Seriously?

Is anyone else incredibly perplexed by this ridiculous Census 2010 advertising effort?

First of all, it's a census. They mail you a form, you fill it out, and then stick it back in the mail. Big deal.

But there's been all this hype on TV. It's as if the Census is the most exciting thing to happen in the last ten years, which was when Census 2000 took place. I mean, the people on the commercials are like in tears about how moving and exciting it will be.

Really?

I got my census form in the mail today, and with all the hype, I thought there would be streamers, free food, balloons, loud music, .....SOMETHING. But no... there was a form that took about 2.5 seconds to fill out. And it wasn't even a cute form. And then I put it back in the mail. And now I'm done.

Then I saw the new commercial with these people dancing around and saying how we can't move forward until it is mailed back. Not to be all controversial, but I just think about how much money they spent on all that.

All I can say is that whenever everyone "mails it back", I'm ready for the makeover that is supposed to happen in America. I mean, that's what the commercials tell me are going to happen, so I know it's true.

Btw...why can't we just fill it out online? Is it Census 2010 or 1910?


~Kathryn

Do You Think I Like Earrings?

Happy Monday, everyone! First of all, this is my 100th post, so that's pretty exciting.

Secondly, remember that beautiful pink net book I showed you a week ago? Well, thanks to my good 'ole Dad and a birthday coming up, a very similar one (even cuter if you ask me) will be arriving at my apartment via FedEx tomorrow. I am SOOO excited. And don't worry, you'll get pictures.

Now, on to business.

I like earrings. Really, I guess it's more honest to say that I'm obsessed with earrings. Big earrings. Chandeliers, feathers, lots of beads, whatever. I love them.

It all started when I was six months old. Being the first born, and my mom being a new proud mother, she was appalled whenever strangers would walk up to me in my pink frilly dresses and headbands on my bald head and say, "What a cute little boy!" Shocking, right?

So, she took me straight to the ear piercing salon and got my ears pierced. I cried for about 2.5 seconds until they handed me a sucker. There are a couple reasons I am forever grateful for that:
1. I don't remember it.
2. I am a total needlephobe now, so who knows if I would have had the guts to get them pierced on my own, and
3. I never had a problem with ear infections.

Clearly, I have worn earrings as long as I can remember and I started wearing more funky fun earrings in college. The problem arose that they would get lost. Or tangled together. I had too many to really put in a jewelry box. I needed a new way to store them. So, after seeing this brilliant idea at a friend's house, I copied it.

It's an easy craft idea for everyone. Are you ready for this?

Yes. It's a picture frame with some screen stapled to it so I can hang my earrings on it. This photo is a little dated, and my earring holder is super full. I now need to get a bigger picture frame. But you guys, it's so easy. Here is what it looks like on the wall:

On the other wall I have some nails to hold up necklaces. Kinda ghetto, but whatever. I like it. You can get whatever kind of frame you like, in any color or design. I went with cheap for my first try. Next time I might scale it up a little. (-:

So, what do you think? Do you have a creative way to store your earrings?

~Kathryn

Where's the Pause Button?

Working a part time job on the weekends in the retail world gives me a lot of time to think. Sometimes I think of completely random things, but as I was aimlessly walking the aisles at my store yesterday, I started thinking about this season of my life.

I'm a newlywed with a wonderful husband, a fulfilling job, a church that is home, friends that "get" me, and so much joy that I just feel like I could burst. Have you ever felt that way?

Sometimes I just want time to stop. To stand still. So that I can soak up this season for a little longer.

Living "in the moment" has been something I have always really tried to do. There are moments where I just stop and think, Wow, I am so blessed. And in those moments I try to take a snapshot in my mind so that I can always remember that feeling, that moment, that conversation, or that song that will forever remind me of a season of life. In those moments, I try to press pause, or at least the slow-motion button. But, eventually, the moment ends.

As I was thinking about time passing, I was reminded that this season will eventually change to a new one.  There will be some seasons where I want to press fast-forward, and seasons where I just want to press stop, or even the power off button. But, in the instability of those seasons, my Lord will always be constant. And I really like the idea of Him holding the remote control, anyway.

Here's a song that's been floating through my mind lately, thanks to Paul Baloche, that goes with this season of life. You should check it out.

You have been so good to me
I came here broken, you made me whole
You have been so good to me

You have been so good to me
I came here mourning,
You gave me joy
You have been so good to me

Lord, How can I thank you
There is just no way
How can I thank you
Lord, how could I repay
For your kindness
For your tenderness
For your constant presence here with me

You have been so good to me
I came here broken, you made me whole
You have been so good to me


~Kathryn

I Would Be a Better Blogger If..

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a while. I'm sorry. But here's the deal.

I have visions of grandeur in my mind. If I was only the owner of one of these, I would be a better blogger.

Yes. It's a pink netbook.

I have visions of myself, sitting at a local coffee shop, working on my blog, sitting in a big comfy chair, and just enjoying having a cool pink netbook. Drinking a chai latte, or a peppermint hot chocolate, listening to some awesome music on my awesome netbook, and sharing my amazingly interesting life (ha) with the void that is the internet. Probably wearing some sort of cool artsy hat. And wearing my new purse. And being envied by every person in the room.

But the problem is, netbooks aren't free. I would actually have to pay to have one of these. LAME.

So, I've decided to try to get one for my birthday. Donations are being accepted.

But think about it! I could take it with me everywhere. It would be so great. Which would also probably require that I buy some sort of netbook case.

If anyone has a discount with Dell, you should definitely share it with me.

Happy Weekend!

~Kathryn

I Lost My Keys

This post has required a few days of emotional healing to be able to write. In the heat of the story I am about to tell you, Mark said, "Look at the bright side - you can put this on your blog", to which I very tearily and dramatically responded, "NO I CAN'T! This is not a fun story. No one wants to read about this. It is just too terrible and sad."

Now that reality is closer to my grasp, I've decided I may as well share, because, well, who can't relate to this? And this is a big step, because this story makes me sound like a total lunatic.

I run late. Pretty much every day. On the days I'm not running late, something inevitably goes wrong to make sure that I'm late. Last week was no different. It was Tuesday. A regular ole Tuesday, except that I was a little ahead of schedule, in a chipper mood, and proud of myself for being able to leave so early. Around 8:20ish I put the dogs up, and went in the living wrong to grab my purse and keys, set the alarm, and head out the door.

Except, I couldn't find my keys. No big deal, right? I mean, this happens once every few weeks, and usually takes just a few minutes to find the keys. So, like any other morning, I start looking for my keys. About five minutes in, I'm frustrated. Because those five minutes mean I'm not going to be so almost-on-time now. So, I do what I always do. I call Mark - since he's the keeper of my keys. Unfortunately, this time, he hasn't seen them. So I hang up and continue looking.

And looking.

And looking.

And I can't find them. Anywhere. I've looked in all the obvious places - the dresser, kitchen table, bench by the door, my purse, the ottoman, etc.

So I call Mark again. I tell him I still can't find them. So he's like "have you looked in your purse?" Really? Am I an idiot? "Yes, I have looked in my purse." I tell him I need him to think of some more creative places that perhaps I haven't looked so I can find them. He asked about the closet, the laundry hamper (?!), and a few more creative places. So I set off to look there.

At this point, I'm totally going to be super late. I'd say maybe 20 minutes have lapsed. I'm getting teary eyed, and really frustrated.

Where could the keys be? I came straight home, unlocked the front door, and started getting dinner ready for our friend. They HAVE to be here. How irresponsible can I possibly be?

The house is starting to look like a tornado hit. Couch cushions flipped upside-down, clothes strewn all over the floor; everything is amuck. Still no keys.

I am realizing that there is a decent possibility that I will not find my keys. I am standing in the kitchen, tears streaming down my face, feeling completely hopeless, wanting to hurl my body on the ground and weep uncontrollably. (Remember, I said my home is drama-free).

Pull yourself together. Deep breaths.

I take my eyes off the floor and start thinking about how I am going to get myself to work. I go through the list of friends and family that might be able to do it, and the list was very short, and was very not productive. (Mark works one day a week in a town 1.5 hours from where we lives. Tuesday happened to be that day.) Then I realize our city has a transit system that will take people downtown. I ask Mark to check into that. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. He then tells me that the last bus left at 8:05 am. It is now about 9:15am.

Uncontrollable sobbing ensues again.

And might I also add, that while I was a total idiot, Mark was very supportive and did everything he could to help me find my keys and get to work.

I then remember we have a spare car (long story, it's my dad's) that has been in the parking lot at our place. After a ten minute rabbit trail on that idea, I realize I don't have the key to that vehicle.

So. Last resort. Mark says he will call a cab for me. We hang up the phone. I see in the mirror how completely ridiculous it was that I even put on make-up that morning, and dried my tears and put make-up back on, and then packed it in my purse in case I had another meltdown.

I finally let my boss know what was going on. I hadn't called him earlier because I knew that I would not be able to tell him without crying like a little kid. And how embarrassing is that? So, once I had the ride arranged, I texted him. That's all I could muster.

Cabbie Jeff showed up at my apartment at about 9:40. He asked if I was having car troubles. I said "I lost my keys" (tears threatening). Don't fall apart now. You've come this far! I took a deep breath and hopped in his cab, where we had very pleasant conversation for the 15 minute commute to work.

Interestingly, there was a "no smoking sign" in his cab, yet the minute I got in, the smell of cigarettes completely enveloped me. Awesome.

I arrived at work at around 10:00, paid my $30.00 cab fee, and walked into my office, still a little shaky, but there. My boss gave me an encouraging hug and told me it was no big deal, even though he did agree that I smelled like cigarettes. Sweet. My vision was a little fuzzy throughout the day due to crying in my contacts, and my nerves were more than slightly rattled, but other than that, I was able to have a good day.

Mark picked me up from work and I was dreading going back into that apartment. That evil place that hid my keys. Mark let me chill on the couch and watch American Idol before I joined him in the search for the keys. He looked about thirty minutes. And then he found them.

Where, you ask?

Behind the flour jar in the kitchen.

I don't even want to talk about it.

If only I had one of those key chains that makes noise when you clap. Sigh.

~Kathryn