Pinterest

**Update: Just logged onto Pinterest from home and the site is completely different. Much easier to navigate and use.  And I had the help of a wonderful video tutorial so I'm ready to go! I hope the laundry can wait another night....

Can someone please explain to me Pinterest? It seems like it's popping up allover the blogosphere and I want in on the action.  It sounds like it'd be perfect for me. I follow so many cooking blogs that I'd love to be able to easily save my favorite recipes and decorating ideas in one place (instead of printing them out and having them strewn all over the house...sorry Joe!).

But, every time I go to the site I get turned off.  I don't like the layout at all.  Is it a compatibility view issue? It almost looks like I'm viewing a mobile web version on my full screen but I don't see anywhere to change it.  Any Pinterest fans out there who can help me?  Or is this just the way it is and I have to deal with it?  I need a lesson.

I included a screen capture of what I see when I go to the site.  It's annoying. Please help or explain!  Because I need another way to waste time in my life...:)

~Kc

I can't sleep now, no, not like I used to...

Ugh, I have been having the WORST SLEEP EVER for the past few weeks. Between allergy problems, hurricanes, insane fears (are there snakes under my bed!?!?!?!?) and general panic about nursing school I feel like I am constantly tired. This kitten has totally been there...

I hope I get some more sleep soon or I may have to do something drastic, like not watch 4 episodes of "Parks and Recreation" every night on DVD instead of going to sleep at a normal time. No daily dose of Aziz- Yikes!!!
~M
*Post title from "Goodbye Apathy" by One Republic

A bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils

I love this time of year.  While most people are mourning the end of summer, I am looking forward to the crisp chill in the air of fall.  Don't get me wrong. I love summer. I love the pool, the beach, the long evenings, catching fireflies....but as Labor Day approaches I start to yearn for fall.

I am actually looking forward to putting away my pool stuff and enjoying my weekends at home to watch football, make chili, and putter around the house.  I want to put on socks and a sweater and get cozy with a new book.

It's ironic that I'm looking forward to these things considering I live in NC.  It'll stay summer warm until well into October so I still have a while to wait for my crisp fall air.  Maybe if I'm lucky we'll get moments of it in the morning and evenings.  Until then, I'll wait patiently for fall to arrive.

~Kc

Midnight in Paris

A couple of days ago, I needed a distraction and went to Midnight in Paris to see if it lived up to its hype. It did...but in a surprising way.

Because of my recent move, I decided to check out  a new theater but as it turns out, it wasn't new at all. I walked into a quaint, slightly outdated movie house and felt like I had escaped into a time warp of my early teens. And once you see the movie, you'll realized how coincidental this was because the film depicts the main character traveling through time to explore his favorite past decade. As an bookworm eager to make my way through the classics, I found the dialogue with  the 1920s Greats--F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway (to name a few)--to be quite entertaining and actually a little enlightening.

When it was over, I started to think about which decade I would like to visit and concluded that I can't pick a specific era but given the choice, I decided I'd like to go back to a simpler time. Maybe not permanently, but I'd like to experience a day without cell phones or computers or TVs...when common practice was leaving your front door unlocked and there weren't memories or threats of terrorist attacks.
In many ways this was a typical Woody Allen movie, referencing a fear of death and self doubt of commitment. However, I appreciated the theme that 'what's meant to be will be' because, right now, that's how I'm living each day.

xoxo,

Kate



I

DIY

Remember LC's post about DIY t-shirt decorating? Well, she sported her CUTE design while on vacation. I told her she should be a pregnant model...

I call dibs on this tank when I have a bun in the oven...which won't be for many many years.

xoxo,

Kate

Vacation Video

I actually didn't take a lot of pictures while on vacation but instead opted for a short video as a way to record the memories.

Blogger is fighting with me when I try to upload the video so you can view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A46ZIf4noRk

What do you think?

xoxo,

Kate

Mind Transportation

If I think about it hard enough, I can magically transport myself back to vacation, right?! Please take me back!

While we were all together, we celebrated my parents 40th anniversary with a champagne toast. 40 years! What a milestone. One day, I'll get there too. One day.

And, paddle ball is the most fun game ever. I could have played it all day long but regardless of the number of hours I put into practice, I didn't get much better. At least not as good as my brothers in law who seemed to set the paddle ball record.

Happy Tuesday!

Kate

Don't Worry, Be Happy...

This is the greatest thing ever. I don't really have anything to say about it- it pretty much speaks for itself. Happy Monday!

~M

Sleeping Beauty

Last week, Goosey was waking up at 5:00 a.m. instead of her usual 7:00 a.m.  Needless to say, she was EXHAUSTED!  One day, she was playing with Abby Cadabby and fell asleep on the couch.  

I used this moment of quiet to check my email.

Five minutes later, I found Goosey like this:

I'm not quite sure what happened in those five minutes, but it was too cute not to capture on film. 

Hugs to our followers (especially the lovers of naps!),
LC

Virginia Beach, VA

1. Siblings!

2. My smiley parents

3. Babies in the sand melt my heart

4. Look at that adorable bikini. Goosey's...not mine :)

Ahhh, this Monday morning brings me back to reality after a week-long fabulous family vacation at the beach. I'll be spending my day playing catch up at work but wishing I was sunbathing and lounging near the ocean. There is lots more to share. Stay tuned...

xoxo,

Kate

Platte County Pie

Joe and I stopped at the cutest little restaurant in Liberty, MO for a quick bite to eat.  I loved all the quaint memorabilia that was spread around the store.  It was nice to find a unique restaurant in the sea of familiar chain restaurants. 

I desperately wished that it had been Wednesday though so I could try the Platte County Pie.  Can you read the description? If a chocolate chip cookie could be a pie, it would want to be this pie! I neeed to get my hands on this. So, I did what any good research librarian would do. I found the recipe!

The recipe can be found at Allrecipes.com. I will be testing this out soon!
~Kc

Somewhere over the rainbow

This picture just makes me happy. This is the view from my aunt and uncle's house in Kansas.  While we were there visiting a big thunderstorm rolled over the valley. It was beautiful to watch and even more fun once the rainbows started to appear. I love that I can 'see' the end of the rainbow going into the valley! And if you look closely, do you see the double rainbow to the left?

I just think it's so fitting that I saw a rainbow like this in Kansas! Now I need to find the yellow brick road.
~Kc

Family Time

I love capturing every day moments on camera.

Does your family sit around playing games while wearing matching t-shirts? Because we do and I think it's pretty awesome.

Nephews provide HOURS of entertainment. These little guys get cuter every day.

Have a great Monday!

xoxo,

Kate

Small town charm

This past weekend my husband and I went to visit my extended family in Missouri and Kansas.  The town of Chillicothe, Missouri holds a lot of incredible memories for me.  Every time I've gone back to visit since my grandmother passed away, I've been so impressed with how they are maintaining the small town charm.  It's still a quaint little town. Here is one of the many reasons why....

On any wall that is available throughout the town, there are beautiful murals painted on it. It's fun to try to find them all as some are hidden in alleyways.

Those windows are painted!

Close up of the previous wall. Did you know that Chillicothe, MO is the home of sliced bread?

Again, the windows are painted. Even more ridiculous is that all the 'brick' you see, it's painted!

I love all the trompe l'oeil effects being used.

I always have to do a double take when I drive past this one.

It really felt like this was a street corner!

Another charming scene

This was deceiving. It really made it look like the picture was set into the wall.  But, it was again just an illusion!

Here's a close up of the brickwork. See, all painted!

I wish more towns would take the time and money to do special things like this. It was so much fun to drive around looking for all the scenes. There were a ton more that I didn't caputre or include. From little details over store fronts to huge murals. Love, love, love.

Hope you enjoyed a little trip through Chillicothe!
~kc

Philadelphia Fun

I was in Philadelphia last week for the US Chamber Institute on Organization Management. It was fantastic and my brain is FULL of great ideas I can't wait to implement.

I spent an evening with my SIL, two sweet nephews and one giggly niece. I left thinking about what a nice little family they have and how soon they will welcome one more tiny addition to the growing bunch. I'm feeling like a very lucky aunt. :)

xoxo,

Kate

Here's Lookin at You, Kid...

Ahhh, summer. I love you so much and I hope you never ever end.

A few days ago, I spent another wonderful evening at Wolftrap watching Casablanca while the National Symphony Orchestra performed the score. Everything about it was amazing.

In my dream world, I would fall asleep every night to the gentle sounds of a live symphony...while outdoors on a blanket...with a stomach full of wine, cheese and popcorn.

xoxo,

Kate

Mason jars...my new obsession

I knew mason jars were handy tools. Aside from canning/preserves, they can be used as drinking glasses, pencil cups, a catchall, etc.  Lately, I've been seeing a ton of super cute recipes using a variety of mason jar sizes. They go way beyond the old 'cookie in a jar' that you would see everywhere. I think this will be great for gifts around the holidays or for party favors.

Courtesy of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

Courtesy of My Baking Addiction

Courtesy of Picky Palate

Courtesy of My Baking Addiction

Courtesy of Get Off Your Butt and Bake

And then, there's this wonderful slideshow of more fun (and yummy) ways you can use mason jars. I'm particularly interested in the Monkey Bread in a jar.

I hope my coworkers and family members are prepared. More than likely, these will be their Christmas presents this year!

Enjoy,
Kc