The Kittelson Family

I Quit!

2009-04-17T09:38:00.003-05:00

Don't let the title of this post fool you...it wasn't quite that dramatic...at least there was no exclamation point at the end. Well, after almost 11 years with KBIC, I have officially hung up my recruiting hat. Yep...finished...done...no more! We always hear the grass is always greener and I hope I haven't made a huge mistake, but I really feel in my heart that I made a good decision for me and my family. In 1998, when I first joined my company, I truly loved it. I really enjoyed talking to candidates and the whole recruiting business. I was driven by the desire to succeed and since it's a sales environment, I wanted to always be at the top of the rankings. I was blessed enough to join a team that was #1 in the company and who cared about my success as much as did...Team Kittelson ;) was a great place for me to start my career in commercial construction recruiting. I focused my efforts in the southeastern US and was blessed to work with some of the best construction companies in the Atlanta and south Florida markets. I made such good friends with my clients and hopefully impacted all the candidates I placed in a positive way. As time went on, I worked my way up the ranks and achieved Partner status and bought into the company about 5 years ago. Professionally, I achieved more than I thought possible but in the last few years, professional recognition became not so important anymore and the money I made didn't really make me "like" what I was doing either. You can make a lot of money in executive recruiting but there is a lot of mental anguish involved in that career choice. I am pretty tough...at least in my opinion...but the highs of my job are really high and the lows are REALLY low. You can do everything "right"...you can find a great client who will pay your fee and interview people on time, provide feedback, solicit your input in negotiating offers, have a candidate whose resume is perfect, who calls you after their interviews, who has impeccable references, who lets you help them negotiate their offer and at the last minute a wife can put the kabosh on the job change, their house won't sell, their kids decide they can't leave their friends and school, they take a counter-offer to stay with their current company...etc, etc. Like magic...the whole deal is gone! That $25K fee...gone....your next paycheck...gone! Yep, full commission is awesome and impacting people's lives in a positive way is a great feeling, but having someone else in control of whether you will get a paycheck is maddening! I just couldn't do it anymore. Perhaps if the economy wasn't so bad and I could have continued working in commercial construction, things might be different but that wasn't the case. My choice to go into healthcare was a good one because it allowed me to come to the place where I finally acted on my thoughts of the past few years...life's too short...go do something you enjoy...money and "things" aren't everything. I came to the realization that I was going to work every day, having hospital HR people be mean to me...negotiate EVERYTHING on my contract, beat me down on my fee, not return my calls, tell me they were working with other firms or don't use firms at all to fill positions, and the worst part is I was doing it for FREE. Yep, my paychecks were ZERO. As I said, commission can be great and it can be not so great. I realized I can make ZERO by staying home, concentrating on my family and figuring out what my next step is. So, that being said, I resigned on Tuesday. I mentioned in my Cancun post how blessed I have been to work with such a generous CEO and I truly am. My resignation meeting could not have gone any better in my opinion. My plan is to work on an "as I want to basis" which means I can still work with my clients and do searches when I want to...and keep my information on the website...my email, etc. How great is that? In the meantime, I am concentrating on my family and working on my next step....but again, more details on that later! I am excited about the next phase of my life and truly happy and blessed. Mike has been so supportive of this and I couldn't ask for a better partner. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given the last 10+ years and believe I did work for the best search firm in the country and I am proud to have been a Partner there.

Cancun with Friends

2009-04-17T09:22:00.005-05:00

Of course, I will start off by apologizing for my lack of posts lately, but I now have the time to get back to my regular blogging...more on that later. Here's what we've been up to...the last weekend of March, Mike and I and several of our friends were able to head south of the border to Cancun. Normally, I am not a fan of Mexico and ESPECIALLY of all-inclusive hotels, but this place was great! The trip was actually a gift from our CEO and his wife. Jeff and Tracy surprised us, along with Joey and Karen, Jeff and Holly, and Nick and Lauren with an all expense paid trip to Cancun. It was a reward for a job well done in 2008 for Karen, Jeff and Nick. But for us, it was an early 40th birthday present for Mike. Lauren got sick at the last minute so she and Nick weren't able to make it so the rest of us had to have enough fun for both of them! Funds are tight this year so having a free trip like this was so great and the fact that we were with our closest friends made it even better. We stayed at a luxury all-inclusive, adults only resort and it was fabulous...so fabulous that we never left the resort for 3 days! That's right, I never even walked down the street in Cancun. We spent the day lounging by the pool and having fun dinners together at night. It was the ultimate relaxation vacation. Jeff even went a step further and had couples massages and body scrubs for everyone...how great is that???? I am so blessed to have such great friends and work with such a generous person. If you and your significant other decide to do a quick get-away, check out this resort. You will love it! http://www.leblancsparesort.com/

Spring has Sprung with Addison Jane!

2009-03-24T22:31:00.004-05:00

Mike and I took off work last Friday afternoon and spent the day at the Arboretum. We decided last year to make this a tradition with Addison and our family. It was such a beautiful day! The kids were so blessed with beautiful weather for the entire Spring Break week...ahhh, the days of Spring Break. I remember laying out by the pool with my friend Lisa and trying to get a tan all the while having extreme goose bumps because it wasn't warm enough just yet...but darn it, we wanted to get tan! Those were the days...but, enough about that...we had a fantastic time. Last year, we packed a picnic lunch, but this year we decided to take nothing, enjoy the flowers and take some great pics of Addie and then head off to get ice cream afterwards. I must say, it was quite fun. Watching the kids run around with their shoes off, being so carefree and enjoying the day made me remember what life is really about. The funniest and cutest part of the day was when Addison saw some kids rolling down a grassy hill and decided she wanted to try it. She ran as fast as she could up the hill and tried her absolute best to roll down...but instead of going down, she went sideways and basically tripped up all the other kids who were going down. PePaw did his best to get her back on track but I don't think she is quite coordinated enough just yet. We saw lots of beautiful flowers and plants...all of which reminded me that God made ALL of that just for us to look at and enjoy. Truly amazing! I so love this time of year and want to spend as much of my time outside as I can. We had a fun time with Micah and Addison and even enjoyed a little "banilla" ice cream on the ride home.

Look Who's Back!

2009-03-19T20:35:00.004-05:00

Gosh, I feel like I start every new post with apologizing for not keeping up. The truth is there is just not enough time in the day for me!! It's so frustrating. But, I must take responsibility for my actions because I guess there is always enough time to do the things you WANT to do. Right? Let's see...in the past month not much has changed on the work front. Mike and I are both still working hard, trying to make something happen in this terrible economy. Things are ok, but definitely not as they have been in past years. We are really slow and what Mike has been able to do in the first quarter of this year is what he normally would do in one week at work. All of that being said, it could be much worse. In fact, I get calls from lots of people where it is definitely much worse. So thanks to God that He is watching over us and continuing to bless us. I believe this year will be a year of struggle financially and also a year of great learning opportunity for me and for lots of other people. Now I'm the first one to say...learning hurts and I am cool...don't need to learn anymore...I got it! However, life doesn't work that way and sometimes God puts things in front of us so we can learn to rely on Him. If things were great all the time, when would God get an opportunity to show us what He can do? I continually repeat this to myself...remain faithful to my tithing and watch for the everyday blessings He puts in my life.

Here's what's gone on in the past month in the Kittelson house.

-we have a roommate! Our friend Shawn moved in with us for two months and is our new family member and "renter". He just went through a divorce with another of our good friends and is staying with us until his place is ready...sometime in mid-May.

-Mike got his nose broken boxing. Yep, Mike takes a boxing class at our gym and it's supposed to be a cardio type of workout but the coach decided he wanted to spar with Mike and guess who won the match? So, last Wednesday Mike had surgery to repair his broken nose. I could go on and on about how the trainer is a complete idiot and WHO hits someone in the FACE when you are TRAINING???? Especially when the client is an OWNER IN THE GYM! Seriously! Mike had a lot of nose surgery done last year to repair a deviated septum so undergoing this type of operation again was not something he looked forward to. However, Dr. Bassichis did a great job and his nose looks great...not at all like Michael Jackson. :)

-We had a shower for Mike's mom and his soon to be stepdad, Terry. The happy couple is getting married next month and we had a wedding shower for them. Wow are they giddy!! Like a couple of teenagers!

-My step-parenting skills have been put to the ultimate test. Micah is in the dreaded 13-15 age range where girls decide parents are stupid, they have NO idea how things are done in school these days, they know pretty much everything and parents know absolutely nothing, parents are not cool...not at all, and they think they can lie and we won't be able to figure out they are not telling the truth. Whatever Micah...your stepmom must have been a CIA agent in another life because when it comes to lying you don't stand a chance. I just hope she knows I am hard on her because I love her and want her to be a responsible young woman. It can definitely be tough sometimes! Being a stepmom is the hardest and most thankless job there is. My prayers go out to those in this role...stick to your guns and always do what's right, even if it doesn't make you very popular.

-I thought I had an ovarian cyst but thankfully, all is good and my reproductive organs are humming away. I have had a pain in my lower abdomen on the right side and after much internet researching, I had convinced myself I had a cyst, cancer, or endometriosis. I also figured out diagnosing yourself does nothing but freak you out and being the crazy person I am, I had already come to terms with a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, etc. I tell you...I can be crazy! However, I had a sonogram today and all is good. The ovaries look good, the uterus is great and I might have had a cyst that ruptured, but there is nothing there now. So thank God I am healthy. Now...if only I had a baby to put in this healthy womb...but more on that another time!

Well, that's the update from around here. Not too much to report. I have been keeping up with everyone else's blog so please be patient with me...I really do promise to do a better job. Even sitting here typing I realize how therapeutic this is! See you soon!

The Miracle of Life...Welcome Lillian Kate

2009-02-15T20:51:00.004-06:00

This weekend was a whirlwind of activity for our family! What was supposed to be mine and Mike's weekend "off" (meaning, Micah is at her mom's) where we act like a married couple with no kids and do whatever we want to do turned out to be a very busy few days. It started on Friday night with a call from Ashley around 8:30 saying she was having some pretty significant labor pains and she and Mark were going to go to the hospital to check things out. By 10:30, they decided it was best to keep her there, so I went to the hospital to pick up Addison so she could stay with us for the night. At 12:40am, Ashley called to let me know that she was dialated to a 4 and they were going to give her an epidural and Lillian would make her debut on Valentine's Day...no doubt about it! Now the thing is, I was supposed to be there during the delivery, but with it being the middle of the night and Addison staying with us, I just figured I would miss out on my one and only chance to actually be in the delivery room so I was definitely disappointed. However, around 5am, Addison woke up screaming from a bad dream so I thought I would check on Ash. It turned out, she hadn't had the baby yet...YAY!!! I jumped in my car and headed to the hospital as they had started her Petocin at 6am...luckily most doctors don't like to get out of bed to deliver babies in the middle of the night so her doctor didn't want to "help" her labor along any sooner than he had to. At 10:38am, little Lillian Kate Swallow made her debut weighing 7lbs 3oz and having just a little bit of sandy blond peach fuzz on her head. I have to say witnessing the birth of this little girl is one of the highlights of my life. I am so thankful to Ashley and Mark for allowing me to be in the room. It says so much for mine and Ashley's relationship and how far it's come and how much it's grown in the past 5 or so years. Watching this reminded me of how awesome God is...that a woman's body just takes over and this little tiny baby finds it way out of the womb is truly incredible. It was such a great weekend and being a part of this was just amazing. We also got to keep Addison Friday and Saturday night and that is ALWAYS fun...she is loving being a big sister to "Silly Lilly". So...now I am KK to two granddaughters...what a blessing. Congratulations to Ashley and Mark and welcome to the world Lilly...your KK loves you already and can't wait to hang out with you!

I Just Need More Time...

2009-02-11T20:19:00.005-06:00

I continually feel like a bad blogger and I KNOW I am! It's just I don't have enough hours in the day to get everything done. I am up at 5:30am and try to be out the door no later than 7am and in the office by 7:30am. By the time I get home around 6pm, I am making dinner, maybe doing some laundry, planning for the next day's work calls and then it's time for bed. I know, I know, it's the same thing with MANY working moms and wives, but it's just so overwhelming sometimes. One thing I WILL NOT sacrifice is my "family time". I think there is nothing more important than the three of us having dinner together...even if tonight it was scrambled eggs and biscuits...definitely not on the diet...but hey, it was cheap and home cooked! So in order to make it all happen and achieve my commitment at work, I have to be in my chair by 7:30am. I figure if I can do that and get done what I need to get done, still have time to work out at lunch and I can leave by 5:30'ish and no one suffers...except me and my tired self. This will definitely be a tough year for us at work and if we can just put all our efforts into surviving this rough economy then I believe 2010 will be much better...and I know the Lord will bless us always. I just think we will have to make some sacrifices in order to make it all work. That being said, I know I'm not blogging as often as I was but I will continue to get to it when I can...it's very therapeutic and I so love reading my friend's blogs so I need to do my part!

Happy Anniversary

2009-02-09T20:55:00.004-06:00

Today is my second wedding anniversary. Yep, on this day two years ago, Mike and I said our i-do's on the beach in Nevis. What a wonderful, wonderful day it was. It was intimate and special and so so beautiful. We had four guests in attendance...Bob and Sandy Bassman who flew all the way there just to stand on the beach and be with us on that special day...and trust me, getting to Nevis is pretty much an all day affair. We also had another couple whom we met on the plane show up as well. They were so sweet to come and watch the ceremony and congratulate us. I think the best part of the whole experience was getting to take a week long cruise on aboard one of the Seadream ships and spend our honeymoon with our best friends. What a great time we had! So, in honor of our anniversary Mike and I both played hookey from work and slept until about 10:30...I NEVER do that...and we went to see the movie "Taken". We had a relaxing day and just hung out together...which is probably my favorite thing to do with him. No gifts this year...just cards and quality time. I am so blessed to have Mike as my husband.

Colorado Pics

2009-01-28T16:51:00.003-06:00

As promised, here are a couple of pics from our recent ski trip to Colorado. We had a lot of fun and I think we all improved our skills on the slopes. Micah did great and even went down a blue/black trail! Cody and Mike snowboarded and I think they did great...Mike looked very much like the young teenager skating down the hills! I did much better too...I think this was my fourth time skiing and I spent the majority of the time on the blue trails and only fell one time (stupid snowboarders!). Did I mention we went ahead and purchased a time share? Yep! Even more time in that great state is coming our way...I can't wait!

I know, I know...I'm a BAD blogger

2009-01-25T17:16:00.004-06:00

I have been told my my sweet friend Lauren that I am a bad blogger...and I couldn't agree more! It's been WAY too long since my last post. Not to make excuses, but I have been swamped! Since my last post I feel like every day at work is my first day on the job. See, in the recruiting industry, your time is spent on the phone all day and when you aren't on the phone, you are figuring out who your next call will be to...and all that makes for a very mentally exhausting day. Not to mention, I am working in my new discipline and I don't know anything about it. Sure, I know how to recruit, close deals, negotiate fees, execute contracts, etc., so I am thankful the last 10 years in this business have taught me those things...however, there's a lot to be said for knowing your territory and the players in it. That's why I feel like it's November 1998 and I just walked in the doors of KBIC. I'm learning new things every day and I think I also put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and excel now that I'm a solo Search Consultant with no team. In our firm, you are measured by the numbers you put on the board and I want to make sure I don't let myself down, my practice partners down or my company...but most importantly myself...I think I need to remember what it feels like to kick butt at work. The past week or so hasn't been all work...we had our annual KBIC company kick-off party and Mike, Micah, Cody and I went to Breckenridge, CO for four days last week. It just seems like time has gotten away from me and there aren't enough hours in the day to get it all in. I feel like by the time I get home from work, make dinner, help Micah with homework, throw in the occasional after dinner errand, do some laundry, check Careerbuilder for new candidates and job leads for new clients, etc., it's 10pm and time to get to bed so I can start it all over again the next day. I am definitely not complaining and it does feel good to be back in the business after taking some time off, but it's a little overwhelming right now. I feel like I am in a rush from the time the alarm goes off at 5:50am. However, I know it will pay off and that success will come at work eventually (I hope!) and I will get back into my "routine". I do have some pics from the ski trip and will post them this week once I find where I put my camera! In the meantime, be patient and pray God will bless me at work...it's tough out there!

Working, Working

2009-01-12T16:27:00.001-06:00

It's been quite a few days since my last post and oh how time flies! I started back to work full-time last week and my days were spent learning a new industry. For the past 10 years, I have specialized in placing construction professionals in the southeast US, alongside Mike. That's it. No other industry and no other territory. It's all I know how to do, as far as recruiting goes, and I've been pretty successful at it. But, as the economy changes, I am being forced to change too. Actually, I think it's a good thing. As much as we all like staying in our comfort zone, sometimes change brings about new adventures and accomplishments we never thought possible. It can also be quite uncomfortable for a while, but it stretches us to see another side of ourself. At least this is all the stuff I've been saying to myself...over and over and over. I am now in the business of placing management level nurses and my new territory is the central US. Tomorrow will be my first "real" day on the phones and I am pretty excited. I have spent some good time with the other recruiters in our office who work this area and it's been really cool to meet some new people...I don't get to the other side of our office very often. I'm so appreciate of the time they've spent getting me up to speed. I feel like I just started! Today was spent with Addison, of course, and also making sure I've got my ducks in a row for tomorrow. Wish me luck as I am nervous about my calls but I know I know how to do this job and with God's help, I'll have success! Also keep Mike in your prayers as he headed out a few hours ago to try and land some new business with a client in North Dakota (totally not in his territory, but work is work!). At last glance, it was snowing there and -1 degrees, dropping down to -10 tonight! THAT is cold!!!

Mondays with Addie

2009-01-05T20:38:00.004-06:00

My Mondays are usually spent hanging out with Addison. We have a very consistent routine every week and it's funny how she knows EXACTLY what comes next...maybe I should change it up a little? At any rate, we always go to the gym to see her "friends" and work out and come home, have lunch (hers looked especially good today next to my turkey breast and broccoli) and then we play a little and she takes a nap. I took her to Office Depot today so I could pick up some supplies and she saw a Dora coloring book she wanted. I know, I know, she has tons of new toys from Santa but I can't help it when she looks up at me with those big blue eyes says, "please, KK". I immediately do whatever she wants...most of the time. I thought she looked so cute and grown up coloring today that I snapped her pic. Mondays are fun with Addie...she reminds me I'm not too big to color!

Ready, Set, Go!!

2009-01-04T19:33:00.004-06:00

I have spent the last month eating and drinking anything and everything I have wanted. I gave myself permission to do so and Mike did as well. As of tonight at 7:30pm, Mike and I are officially done with that way of life and are on the clean eating bandwagon until March 1. Our plan is to eat clean 6 days a week and on the 7th day (whichever day we want it to be) we can have one "reward" meal. As you probably recall from my posts back in September, I did this and lasted about 8 weeks. I saw results and then I pretty much mailed it in around the holidays. I just hope I didn't "undo" everything I did a month or so ago. :(

This will be the first time Mike has fully committed to eating clean with me and he's promised me he can do it. Whereas I am a carb freak, he is a dessert/sugar freak and I know this will be just as difficult for him. I am so blessed that he is doing this with me and that he pushes me to be healthy and take care of myself...if left to myself, I might not do so well. Tonight, I made all of our meals for the week and it was a huge undertaking. (see pic) If you try to do this my recommendation is to make the meals ahead of time. I cannot stress the importance of this one thing. If you allow yourself to get hungry, you have a high probability of screwing up and putting the closest thing in your mouth and it's usually something you shouldn't be eating. So, please, wish us luck! I know we can do this together!

Date Night(s)

2009-01-03T17:25:00.004-06:00

Every other weekend Micah goes to see her mom so Mike and I get to have the weekend to ourselves. I always look forward to it because we usually do something fun, whether it's trying out a new restaurant we read about or taking a long walk, or trying to sleep in. It doesn't matter what we do, it's just nice to have the time alone to act like newlyweds. Last night we revisited a new fav restaurant of ours, Neighborhood Services. I had read about the owner in D Magazine several months ago and the restaurant opened in October. We went a while back and it was fabulous! It's a small place, but the food is great and the service is just as good as the food. We decided to go again last night and it was good...but not as great as before. It was very crowded but we luckily we called ahead and got sat as soon as we walked in the door. My entree was great but Mike's was "ok". Not as good as it was the first time. As we drove home I wondered, "Why is it that when you try and recreate something you really loved, whether it's an experience, a restaurant, a fav vacation spot, does it not seem as good as you thought it was the first time?" Usually when I have an "ok" experience at a restaurant, I am out. I don't go back, especially with this new clean eating I am embarking on...I have to love it or I won't waste a cheat meal there again. However, I will try it again...maybe it was just an off night. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Tonight, is Date Night #2. We are going with our friends Greg and Theresa to a small restaurant in Frisco that we've been to before. It had good, simple food and awesome drinks. We'll see how that goes...at any rate, it will be fun to see them and catch up. I'll keep you posted.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T16:16:00.004-06:00

Well 2009 is officially underway! I am not one to make resolutions because I've never been able to keep them, but I do plan to make a list of things I would like to accomplish this year. It's hard to believe how fast the past year has gone. What did I do? Did I really accomplish anything? Let's see...well, I decorated the house some, in that I got my bedroom and the game room painted and fixed up a bit. We also moved Micah into Ashley's old bedroom and got it painted really cool...she calls it her loft apartment because of the faux brick wall that is painted on one of her walls. We also did went on some cool trips both with KBIC and with our family. I also stuck to my clean eating plan for about 8 weeks...that is a record for me. I'm hoping to beat it but more on that later. As for our family, a lot happened in 2008 and when I started listing everything to Mike it was quite astonishing! 2009 will bring many changes in our life, starting with me moving into a new practice at KBIC...goodbye commercial construction recruiting, hello nursing! Yep, I am changing industries after 10 years and couldn't be more excited...and scared. What if I fail? What if I have forgotten how to do this "old school"? I guess all I can control is my energy and effort and with God's help, I will be successful. I decided today to create a list of the top 5 things I would like to accomplish this year and thought I would share it, here goes...

-starting 1/5/09, work out a minimum of 5 times per week, 3 days of cardio
-eat 100% clean...no cheating (except for 1 cheat meal per week) for at least 8 weeks...hopefully 10
-go to work by 7:30 everyday and maintain a 3:45 hour connect time on the phone
-ensure that family life doesn't suffer from the above mentioned commitment
-try to get pregnant in the late spring/early summer...I've never tried before so we'll see what happens...if it's meant to be, it will happen

I realize the last one is a little out of place compared to the other four, but it IS one of my goals so I had to put it on there. A new year starting is always a good feeling...time to wipe the slate clean and begin this thing all over again. I pray that God continue to bless our family and that we all remain healthy and happy.

What We've Been Up To...

2008-12-29T16:23:00.006-06:00

This weekend was busy, busy! We got home on Friday evening and on Saturday morning, Mike and I were at the gym at 9am. I had not worked out since the week before Christmas so needless to say I was not feeling too good about myself. I think at one point during the workout I could've cried...I'm not sure if it was because it was so hard or because my husband, Jack Lalane, Jr. was doing so much better than I was. I think it just boiled down to feeling fat and out of shape. One thing I learned for sure during my week off is that the more you lay around, the more you will want to lay around. The less you do, the less you will want to do. We have a pretty active life in that we are on the go a lot...sometimes a lot more than I really want to be. I am not a "napper" and rarely ever lay down during the day which is probably why I sleep so good at night. So the fact that I didn't work out for a week, made me just mentally out of shape. Not to mention that when I woke up on Sunday morning, my butt and legs were sooooo sore! Why oh why aren't they in shape by now???? I'm talking the kind of sore that you need support when sitting down on the pottie because it hurts so bad. That'll teach me to take time off! We also picked up Micah from her mom's and exchanged our family Christmas presents with her. Sunday was spent going to church and lunch and Mike went to see his dad at the VA in Bonham. I was lucky enough to treat myself to a mani/pedi and relax. We also went to see "Marley and Me". If you are a dog lover, this movie will rip your heart out. I literally had to control my sobs in the movie theater because I was afraid of people hearing me. I even knew how the movie would end and I was still a disaster! It made all three of us love our dogs even more...and I am not sure if I know how to love my Lola any more than I do already! If you haven't see it, go see it...it was very good, just bring your tissues. That about wraps up our weekend...will post again soon! P.S. I took this picture of Lola today...she thought she was a Christmas present.

Happy 3rd Birthday Addison!

2008-12-26T21:51:00.004-06:00

Today, Addison turned 3 and my Bom Bom (grandmother) turned 80! Here's a few pics of Addie at our house tonight blowing out her candles. My mom "Grana" got her a cute Snow White outfit for Christmas so Addie the fashion model is showing off her new clothes in the pics. Happy Birthday Addison! You are such a joy to KK and Pe Paw!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T21:41:00.004-06:00

We are back from Georgia and had a very good time with my family. I love going "home" and seeing my mom and my aunt and my grandmother. We had fun talking and visiting and eating...lots of eating. I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted all week! I love living in Texas and definitely would not want to live in Macon, Georgia, but it's always good to go back and spend time at my mom's house and visit some of the places we used to go when I was a child. It was also nice to see my new baby cousin for the first time. Little Kohl is almost 3 weeks old and he's such a little angel. It's amazing how small a newborn is! Here are a few pics, including some of me and my half-sister, Meredith. She is almost 5 months prego with her first baby! I will be a legitimate aunt soon!

Cooking, Cooking and more Cooking!

2008-12-24T07:51:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was spent doing a little shopping and spending lots of time in the kitchen. Our family traditionally has snack type food on Christmas Eve...all the stuff I rarely indulge in but REALLY like...questo, chips, jalepeno poppers, Chick-F*l-A nugget tray, sausage balls and various sweet stuff. I made my first pound cake and I'm proud to say it is really good. I also made my first lemon cake. I am usually not a lemon fan but my sweet friend Teresa shared this recipe with me after I almost made myself sick eating hers. It is so yummy and I think mine turned out pretty good but it still wasn't as good as hers...at least no one here has tasted hers so they think mine is the bomb! Today we will do some last minute shopping because my aunt never has all of her shopping done and start preparations for Christmas dinner tomorrow. I love Christmas! Mike and Glenn have hit the golf course again today and given the beautiful weather, I am sure they will have a great time. Here's a couple of pics of my cakes...a lot of them are gone already but you get the idea.

Fun With My Family

2008-12-22T20:47:00.003-06:00

We are just finishing our first day in Georgia and we've had a great time so far. I am so blessed to be with my family. My grandmother on my mother's side will be 80 years old on Friday and my grandmother on my father's side will be 90 in April. Neither one look their age...I hope I am lucky enough to get some of those genes! We visited my Grandma today (the one that will be 90) and she is so much fun. It's weird because when you are growing up you never see them as adults...real people who like to have fun, who still like date nights with your grandpa, who might like to go on a date if there's no grandpa around anymore, people who have "catfights" with other women their age...basically nothing in life ever changes, no matter how old you get. My Grandma has outlived THREE husbands. No lie...3 of them. I never knew my dad's dad because he died way before I was born, but my Grandad (her 2nd hubby) lived until 1989. She then remarried several years later and her third husband passed away about 2 years ago. She is now currently dating yet ANOTHER man and she refuses to tell him the year she was born. How funny is that? He is 80 years old! She got herself a younger man this time! I love to hear her talk about her life and growing up and all the fun things she did as a young woman. Mike asked her the secret to living a long life and she said her faith is one of those things. How else could you go through all the things she has without it? I have so many fond memories growing up of her cooking for us, taking us to church camp, ALWAYS keeping me when I was sick, and I will never forget her telling me that the flabby part on the under side of her arm is called "granny flab". Everytime I do tricep extensions at the gym to fight the "granny flab" I think of her. Today, she whipped out some homemade angel biscuits for me and I went ahead and devoured two of them. Talk about good...oh my gosh...they just melt in your mouth. I realize how blessed I am. I have two grandmothers who are still alive, a wonderful mom, an aunt who is crazy and fun and a brand new baby cousin I get to meet later this week. I am so thankful and happy to be with them during this special time of year.

Travelin', Travelin'

2008-12-22T08:19:00.004-06:00

Didn't get to post yesterday as we were traveling to GA. We left around 1pm and got to Atlanta around 4pm. I have driven out of the Atlanta airport about 100 times and for some reason this time, I got lost. How does THAT happen? I missed my exit onto I 75 and after a while I started noticing that the exits didn't look familiar at all. I also kept seeing mileage signs to Montgomery, AL and Columbus, GA so I KNEW this had to be wrong. I ended up taking us about 30 miles southwest of where we needed to go and we took a back road through several small towns to get back on track. So, we ended up a little behind schedule but made it safely to my mom's house. Today, we are headed to visit family and probably do some last minute shopping. It will be a fun day!

Family Day

2008-12-20T22:35:00.006-06:00

Today was a very busy day but also a very fun day spent with family and friends. We started off the day a little slow because the party last night went until about 1am. Luckily, I didn't have too much to clean up, thanks to my thoughtful friends last night. We went to Addison's 3rd birthday party today. Her real birthday is on December 26 but because of the holidays and everyone's busy schedules, Ashley decided to have the party a little bit earlier. Since Addie loves anything and everything "princess", that was the theme. The party was at ASI Gymnastics and it was fun to watch her and her friends run around and jump on the trampolines. After the party, we headed over to Mike's mom's house for the Kittelson family party. It was a lgreat time watching the kids open presents and show off their gifts. Even though we draw names for the adults, it seems like no one, including me, pays much attention to that because we all wind up with several presents to unwrap. I got an awesome gift box of the ginger scented stuff from Origins and a Nordstrom gift card from Ash and Mark. Mike's mom also bought everyone a Texas shirt and we all posed for a pic wearing our new shirts. The highlight of my night was when Addison got her play kitchen from us. We made her shut her eyes...which she did for quite a while, while PePaw moved it out in front of her. I don't think she quite knew what to do when she saw it and I think she was a little bit shocked! THIS is why Christmas is still fun for adults. To see the kids get so excited and amazed brings out the kid in all of us. I think PePaw would stay up past midnight all over again to see the expression on Addie's face. It was a family fun-filled day and I am blessed to be a part of the Kittelson clan. Tomorrow we will be flying the friendly skies eastward to Georgia. I can't wait to see my family and have a fun week with my mom. I am also going to meet my 2-week old cousin, Kohl. Please pray for a safe flight and safe trip.

What a Night!

2008-12-20T17:29:00.003-06:00

Last night we hosted a company Christmas party at our house. KBIC has different recruiting divisions and Mike and I are a part of the Construction Division...he for 13 years and me for 10 years. There are about 15 of us (now) who specialize in placing people in the commercial construction industry and we hosted everyone on the team as well as their spouses and significant others last night. It was a GREAT time! I prepared all the food with the exception of the meatballs, courtesy of the fabulous Teresa Schermer and the brownies, courtesy of the stylish Mrs. Holly Wittenberg. I have to admit I was a little nervous cooking for that many people...about 32 of them but I think it turned out great. The last minute stuff...pulling things out of the oven, setting food on platters, etc. was the hardest part but luckily my girlfriends helped me out a lot. We did a White Elephant gift exchange and that was really fun...I walked away with one of those oil diffusers that make your house smell good and Mike got the booby prize...a box of different types of Ale beer. We laughed, socialized and even danced a little. It was a great time and I feel blessed to work with such wonderful people...many of them some of my best friends. Here's a few of the pics!

Lots To Do!

2008-12-18T22:59:00.004-06:00

I had a very busy day today. We are having our team Christmas party at our house tomorrow night so I spent the day running around. Took Micah's math book to her at school because she left it at home, hit the gym, ran to Wal-Mart for some supplies, got my hair cut and colored, went by the liquor store, hit the grocery store and tomorrow...hitting Central Market for my beef tenderloin and some nice cheeses. I spent the majority of the night prepping the food for the party so I won't have so much to do tomorrow. Addison is staying with us tonight because Ashley and Mark have their holiday party tonight so we got to keep Addie. She is so fun! I just hope she sleeps all night...she did last time but you never know when it's a strange place. The December daily is killing me but I am committed to keeping it up. However, tomorrow might be a different story...we'll see!

Addie's First Kitchen

2008-12-17T20:50:00.005-06:00

As promised, Pe Paw finished the kitchen at 12:30 last night. She's going to LOVE it!!

For Christmas, Mike and I bought Addison her first kitchen play set. I ordered it online a couple of weeks ago from Toys R Us and it showed up yesterday...all in one big box. Now, being the awesome grandparents we are, we decided to go ahead and put the thing together...well, Pe Paw is putting it together. Here it is, all out of the box in pieces...I will post the finished product pics, assuming it gets finished...sometime...maybe before Christmas.

Sleet and Ice = No School and Christmas Shopping

2008-12-16T19:18:00.006-06:00

Well, I got up this morning ready to start my workday preparations and Allen ISD closed the schools. I personally think it was a bit premature considering the roads were not that bad, but I guess the powers-that-be thought differently. Micah, was of course ecstatic, and I had to cancel a couple of meetings I had scheduled for today so I could stay with her. We pretty much hung out at the house until late afternoon when we met up with Mike, who had left work early, to do some more Christmas shopping. Since I don't have ANY presents under the tree, I think "someone" needed to hustle while we were at the mall, so we split up and I am hoping whatever is in those shopping bags he brought in is something really good! :) Oh, how I love presents! I know this will sound completely ungrateful and I apologize in advance...call it only child syndrome, call it being too picky, etc., but I am pretty particular on gifts. That's not to say I don't love and appreciate the thought because I truly do. However, when I am asked what I want for Christmas or my birthday or any other special occasion, I have no problem saying what I want...exactly...the color, the size, the style, exactly what I want. People register for their wedding...they register for their baby and note exactly what they want...why is it so wrong to be specific about other gifts? Maybe everyone should just have a registry somewhere that friends and family can access at all times...hmm, I might be onto something here. That being said, if the store is sold out or doesn't have it, then I would rather not have anything. I am not interested in something "similar" and think it's a waste of time to buy someone anything just for the sake of buying something. If all else fails, get a gift card. I love those and really like giving those as well. I think GC's have a bad rap. One could view it as the "lazy" gift...the gift you couldn't be bothered to actually shop for, so you settled. Not me, baby...bring it on...then I can get exactly what I want and avoid the "oh, it's almost exactly what I wanted" face. My poor parents...I know I was a tough to please kid and I guess I still am but I really try to get people exactly what they want...is it so wrong to ask the same in return?? So, if any of you reading this have ever bought me something that you hoped I liked, don't worry, I did...I loved it and I loved you for buying it for me...really...not kidding.

Busy, busy

2008-12-15T21:04:00.003-06:00

Today was a very busy day for me. I felt like I was going, going, all day long. It started with taking Micah to her orthodontist appointment (only 3 left!) and then driving all the way back to Allen from Plano to take her to school. I had to get a couple things done at work and then had a lunch meeting. We are planning on taking a family ski trip to Breckenridge in January and due to a scheduling conflict at work (our annual kick-off party), I had to spend a great deal of time today rescheduling our hotel and also fought with the airlines regarding their fees on changing all four of our tickets. I ended up getting the best and least expensive deal I could and was able to change everything after spending a lot of time on hold and "speaking with supervisors". I also went for a quick workout which turned into more time being spent on working the kinks out of my shoulders and traps than on my bootie and legs. I cooked dinner and am now about to make hot chocolate for Micah to get her out of wanting to go to Starbucks. We have perfectly good hot chocolate and whipped cream here! All in all, I feel like I got some things done today, but I don't like being quite that busy. Did I mention I am in the process of changing roles at work? Yea, that's a whole 'nother blog for 'nother day.

Skating Pics from Last Night

2008-12-14T09:14:00.001-06:00

Family Day

2008-12-13T22:57:00.006-06:00

We had quite a day. It started off with Mike going golfing and Micah and I hitting the local UPS store to mail some Christmas gifts to my family in Georgia. We are heading there in a week or so but because we are flying, we went ahead and shipped everything today. Then, I bribed Micah to help me clean up the dead flowers in our front and back yard. Our yard looks so pretty in the spring and summer, but after the the first freeze, everything is just brown and bare. My dad and Marlene came over in the afternoon and it was great to spend some time with both of them. We agreed not to exchange gifts this year because everyone is trying to save money but we still wanted to get together during the holidays. We went out to a late lunch and luckily, Addison and Ashley joined us. It was the first time Ashley had met them and they always like seeing Addison so we had a fun time visiting with everyone. Tonight, we met up with Ash and Addie again and took Addison ice skating for the first time. Ashley and Mark had taken her to the Galleria and she was mesmerized by the kids ice skating so it was a lot of fun to be a part of helping her get out on the ice for the first time. I really thought she would freak out once her skates touched the ice and she realized how slippery it is, but she did awesome! She has no fear and she figured out that if she just held onto KK and PePaw's hands, she could go "really fast". Since Ashley's 7 months prego, she couldn't get out on the ice so she was the photographer. Keep in mind, we are NOT good skaters and luckily we didn't fall down but I felt pretty unsteady to say the least. Addison did great and would yell out "weeeee" every once in a while while holding onto our hands for dear life. Ashley took some cute pics and I'll post them when I get them. All in all, it was a fun day and it nice to spend it with our family.

It's Dinner Time

2008-12-12T22:06:00.003-06:00

Tonight, we spent the evening with Mike's mom and her friend Terry. His family drew names this year for Christmas presents, but because it's his mom, we decided it just wouldn't be right not to do anything special for her for Christmas. Therefore, we took Lynn and Terry to dinner at Del Frisco's. We love that place and I really think they have the best steak of anywhere I've been so we both were really hoping they would feel the same way. It was a really fun night! They loved the food and it was good to spend one-on-one time with both of them. We got to know Terry better and it's really cute to watch them both interact...like high school kids on a first date! It's also fun to spend time with them "as adults" and not like they are our parents or in-laws. They are a cute couple and I have no doubt Terry will soon be a permanent part of our family.

Hitting the Catwalk

2008-12-11T20:16:00.003-06:00

Tonight, Saks Fifth Avenue had their holiday fashion show and we went and had a great time. The models were Next Level Fitness (our gym) trainers so it was very neat to see all of the trainers in "regular" clothes hamming it up for the audience. It was also fun to see some friends and have the opportunity to catch up, especially during this busy time of year. We took Micah with us and she had a great time posing for me later (see attached pic). It was a fun time and good reason to dress up on a Thursday night. However, as you can see from the time my blog was posted this morning, I am tired and will be in bed within the hour. Have a good night!

Ladies Dinner

2008-12-11T02:58:00.006-06:00

So I guess technically, it's Thursday morning but Icouldn't sleep and wanted to make sure I posted some pics from tonight. Tonight...well, last night now, my girlfriends and I had our gift exchange and dinner. It was a lot of fun and it was good to catch up with everyone and share some laughs and some sushi. I love my girlfriends and we had a good time together. It seems like we all get so busy sometimes with our own lives with work and kids, that we (women in general) don't take enough time for ourselves anymore so it's good to have a few hours together uninterrupted by kids, tv, spouses or just life.

Ooops!

2008-12-10T09:18:00.002-06:00

I messed up! I totally forgot to post yesterday. Therefore, I am going to post twice today to make up for it. Yesterday started out normal...went to work, worked out and then got called to go home because Micah threw up at school. I have told her she can throw up at the drop of a hat, but magically, once she got home, she felt much better. Hmmmm....anyway, she's back at school today. Went to a fun jewelry party at my friend Holly's house last night. Got a couple of really cool Christmas gifts for my aunt and my mom...pics to come later so I don't spoil the surprise for them. I also spent the afternoon making some sweet treats for my girlfriends. We are having our holiday get together tonight at Blue Fish and I thought it would be fun to give them all a little something, even though we drew names for the real gifts. Which, by the way, I am fired up about because Holly drew my name and I know I'm in for a good present! I will take some pics and post with my second entry later tonight! Again, so sorry I screwed up!

An Apple A Day...

2008-12-08T16:18:00.003-06:00

I spent a lot of time waiting today. Micah hasn't been feeling very well for the past week or so and thought she had pink eye so she stayed home today from school and we went to the doctor. I thought she would be able to go to my doctor but because she is 13, my doc wouldn't take her. So, we went to the local Doctor-In-A-Box just down the street where they put your name on a list and they tell you they will call you in...an hour and half. Once they called us, we went back to the clinic where we waited...and waited...and waited and finally walked out of that place about an hour or so later. Good news is that she doesn't have pink eye! However, she does have a small respiratory infection that should be cleared right up with the Z-pack prescription. At least our wait at the drug store wasn't quite as long as the one at the doctor's office. I made a brisket last night and since I'm not sure how it turned out, I am busy preparing another meal which can be used as a back-up or for tomorrow night's dinner. I'll let you know how it turned out! Check out the pics of Micah...she is doing her best to look pitiful.

Sunday

2008-12-07T20:17:00.003-06:00

Not much to report today...ran some more errands, hit Hancock Fabric to buy some material for Micah's school project...went grocery shopping...made healthy meals for the week for Mike and me to take to work as I've found this is the easiest way to eat clean...have it ready to throw in the microwave. Picked up Micah from her mom's...did laundry...cooking a small brisket for tomorrow night's dinner. I have really missed my husband this weekend...he should be home any minute now. Back to work tomorrow!

Runnin' Around

2008-12-06T20:23:00.008-06:00

This blogging every day is tough! I have been keeping my camera in my purse and taking it everywhere I go, but I keep forgetting to actually take pics throughout the day...well, there's always tomorrow. I decided last night to blow off my workout today. I was just tired and with everyone gone this weekend and the house to myself, I really wanted a day to just do whatever I wanted to do...and I DID! I am notorious for getting up early and not being one of those people who can sleep in very easily. Well, today I woke up at 9am!! I might as well have slept until noon! I am so proud of myself and so happy my dogs knew how tired I was last night. They didn't make sound until I woke their lazy butts up this morning just after 9. It was greatness! I decided to take my time getting myself together and drank a few cups of coffee while watching a little reality tv and then ventured out around noon. I hit Toys R Us with my friend Karen (who actually likes going to that place for some reason...she doesn't even have kids) and bought Addison some gifts and then we hit the mall and got a few more people covered. I went to Target and Container Store by myself and spent about an hour in Target (I have no idea why...it was like I had never been in that place before but I kept finding things to look at). I also realized that while I really enjoy browsing around the Container Store, I really have no idea what to do with that stuff they sell and I always leave feeling like I should be more organized. I did leave with a couple of rolls of the most expensive gift wrap I've ever bought...I couldn't help myself...it was all so beautiful and color coordinated...they really know how to market that stuff. I will admit it is some good paper...very thick and durable, but then I guess it should be right? The highlight of my day was going into Banana Republic and realizing that the sweaters I bought myself and Mike last week are now 40% off and being the crazy receipt keeping person I am, I got a price adjustment and walked out with $86.60 in my pocket...take that, Banana! Tonight, I decorated the staircase with lighted garland, cranked up the Christmas music and wrapped the presents I bought. I really had a great day and although I would've loved a nice glass of cabernet tonight, I settled for bottled water and Food Network. Oh, I also attached a picture of my gift from the party last night...I was lucky enough to land this awesome candle. Maybe my crafty friend Kim can look at it and make them...bet you could get $30-40.0o for one! See you tomorrow!

Ready For The Weekend

2008-12-05T23:07:00.003-06:00

We started off the day again with our early morning walk...waiting until daylight this time and we all three went...Mike, Micah and me. I am keeping Addison on Fridays for a while so we had a fun day. She came in this morning holding an ornament for our tree that she made at school! It was so sweet and it is my favorite thing on our Christmas tree. We headed to the gym for a little workout for me and some playtime for her with her "friends" at the daycare at the gym. We then ran a couple of quick errands and it was naptime for her this afternoon. A few of my girlfriends had their annual white elephant Christmas party tonight so it was fun to hang out with them and munch on some holiday goodies. Mike is off to pheasant hunt this weekend in Kansas and Micah is at her mom's so I think I will...sleep as late as a I can and get some of my holiday shopping done. Ahhh...the sounds of silence. Goodnight!

These Boots Were Made for Walkin...

2008-12-04T14:21:00.004-06:00

Part of my commitment to working out and eating clean is starting my day with a brisk 20 minute walk. So far, I have done a GREAT job (if I do say so myself) on the working out part, I did a GREAT job at eating clean from Labor Day until mid-October and since then have fallen off the wagon and jumped back on quite a few times. I think I rationalize it by saying, well, at least I'm not canceling workouts. Eric, my dedicated trainer, really wants me to start my day with a brisk walk. I guess it's a way to jump start my ever slow metabolism. Well, I did walk consistently every morning while it was still dark, mind you, until about a month ago. I just have such a hard time getting myself out of bed to do it. So, yesterday as I was leaving the gym, he asked me if I was going to walk this morning and I committed to him that I would. I'm pretty sure I rolled my eyes and gave him a hateful look as I said yes and immediately apologized for that today because I felt bad. Bless him. He's just doing his job and helping me achieve what it is I said I wanted...it's just SOOOOOO hard. At any rate, I begged Micah last night to go with me this morning. She is so sweet and always gets up on her own every morning...we are so blessed! This morning at exactly 6:05am, she came stumbling down the hall to my room, decked out in two hoodies, sweats and her tennis shoes, telling me to get up and let's go. I put on some warm clothes and off we went! It was freezing! We even saw the poor newspaper guy throwing papers on people's driveways and we discussed how warm the people in those houses must be all tucked under their covers. It turned out to be a good time to catch up with her about school and what all she is doing. I learned that she learned all about abstinence and sexually transmitted diseases yesterday...boy, they start that stuff early these days! I am glad it's over and the build up was way worse than the actual walk...it's 20 minutes for goodness sakes...not that big of a deal right? Right. Our day started off great and I plan on hitting Starbucks prior to picking her up from school as a special "Thank You" to my sweet daughter. Thanks Micah...I love you!

Deck The Halls

2008-12-03T19:59:00.006-06:00

Well, the tree is officially up and the stockings are hung. We decorated our Christmas tree this weekend and although I dreaded dragging out all the decorations, it was fun. It actually only took us about 30 minutes from start to finish. Micah and I still need to decorate our staircase with the lighted garland but other than that, the Kittelson casa is ready for Santa. I bought some timers at Target so the lights cut on and off by themselves and that is so convenient. From a crime prevention standpoint, timers are awesome to use on lamps around the house that way no one knows when you are there and when you are not. Anyway, the halls are decked...now I just need to get out and finish my shopping!

Hit Me Baby One More Time

2008-12-02T12:58:00.006-06:00

I saw that my sweet friend Kim is going to post every day in December. She wanted to know who else is up for the challenge. Well, I am! I can't guarantee that every post will be about Christmas (starting with this one) but I can guarantee I will have something to share every day. Today has been a GREAT day. Why you ask? I have worked out, eaten well AND I purchased advance tickets to see Britney Spears on March 31. YES, I am 36 years old and realize I just might be the oldest true fan in the audience but I am so excited! I understand that she doesn't sing live but I know the show will be incredible to watch. I am going to take Micah and Ashley will be joining us, as well as my friend Karen (hopefully). It's funny because on the radio this morning they were discussing why it is that women have such an affinity for all things Britney. I don't understand it either. I mean, she has been a disaster in her personal life for the past year or so and she's really not that great of a singer. I think I've figured it out...at least I have for myself. There is something very fragile about her and it makes you sympathetic to her situation. I have a friend in the entertainment business who regularly interviews celebs and what he said about Britney really hit home with me. He said she is basically an adult who has a 10th grade education, obviously no time spent in college, grew up (at least in her mid-late teens) in front of the world and really didn't have any parental supervision during that time either. Given that situation and lack of guidance (at least by those who don't consider her a meal ticket), she has very little hope of making any good decisions about anything. In addition to that, every move she makes is in front of the world. Imagine if every mishap you had with your kids, your job, your parents, your body, etc. was shown to the world. We all would be really embarrassed or hurt or angry. That being said, I love her and will do my best on March 31 to look like a parent who is enduring the concert for the sake of her teen daughter while trying to keep my hips still and my mouth from moving. :)

Here Comes Santa Claus

2008-12-01T20:22:00.007-06:00

Last night we went to Watters Creek, a new shopping area close to where we live in Allen. They had a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and Radio Disney was there along with Santa and his sleigh. Ashley, Mark and Addison joined us and we had a great time, in spite of the chilly temperatures. In fact, the cold weather and Starbucks helped to make it more festive and more "holiday like". Ashley had curled Addison's hair and Addie was very proud of how "wonderful" it looked. It's so neat to watch kids at Christmas. I think sometimes as adults, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and 1. forget the true meaning of Christmas and 2. lose some of the wonder of the season. I thought about this yesterday as we decorated our tree. As a child, I was so excited about Santa Claus and completely confused as to HOW he could possibly have the time to deliver presents to every child. Seriously, he's only ONE person! How does that happen and HOW does he ALWAYS know what I want? HOW? And have you seen that guy eat? I couldn't believe he could eat everything I left him and still be hungry at the next house! No wonder he's so jolly! Christmas is so magical and to see Addison get excited about what Santa will bring her and watching her face as he rode down the street in his sleigh is a great reminder of how special this season is. I am not sure if she fully understands the Santa Claus concept but it seems to be a great way for Ashley to snap her back to "Angelic Addison" should "Grinch Addison" rear it's head. I wish I could still do that to Micah...hmmm. At any rate, we had a great time and now I'm off to find a small pink horse with reigns and a saddle for Addison. Let me know if you know where I can find a pink horse. :)

Now, You Be a Good Girl KK

2008-11-24T18:25:00.004-06:00

On Mondays I get to watch Addison. Our day usually consists of watching a little Sesame Street or Curious George in the morning and then heading to the gym, eating some lunch, taking a nap (Addison) and having a snack. Pretty easy and pretty predictable. In fact, we have the same routine each week with the occasional play date with Noah or a quick trip to the grocery store or park. She is at such a great age! She says the funniest things and she makes me laugh constantly. Today she was especially funny to me. When I dropped her off at the daycare at Next Level so she could "work out" she pointed her finger and told me as I was leaving, "You be a good girl, KK". I guess she's so used to hearing that herself that she wanted me to do the same and mind my manners! We went to Costco later after our work out and she told me what she wanted for Christmas, which was basically every girl toy on the aisle...especially the baby dolls. I told her I will make sure to let Santa know what she wants. I think she was really intrigued by all the free food they were passing out too. Addison tried butternut squash ravioli, which she liked, roasted turkey breast, which she liked too, and some cheesecake, which she REALLY liked. At the opposite end of the spectrum, she is not a fan of clam chowder or raspberry chipotle sauce! That's where KK got to have seconds! I think she has also figured out the names of the days of the week and apparently all things good happen on Saturday. I'm not sure whether Ashley knows this or not but they are getting a really little white puppy this Saturday as well as eating some cupcakes and going to 'nastics (gymnastics). Sounds like a fun day! :) Kids are so great and grandkids...yes, I said grandkids...are especially great. PePaw and KK get to have lots of fun with Addison and there's not a lot of downside, except the occasional meltdown or stubborn streak. I can't wait to meet her baby sister, Annabella...she's got a tough act to follow! :)

Blessings...

2008-11-20T20:51:00.004-06:00

Times are tough. The economy sucks and people all across our country are unemployed and unsure if or how they will pay their mortgage payment and household bills. Am I scared? Yes. Do I worry? Yes. Does God tell us to trust in Him? Yes. It's a hard thing to do. At least it is for me. Last week, I got to work and immediately fielded three phone calls back to back from guys who had just lost their jobs. Two of them I placed a couple of years ago. It's difficult to tell someone it's going to be alright and they'll find something soon when I don't even believe it myself. I am so blessed to have a husband who's faith is unshakeable. He is positive, no matter what and trusts God completely. That's not to say that I don't, but I'm still scared. Look, none of us want to go through tough times, whether it's sickness, financial difficulties, relationship problems, etc. But if we don't, how do we REALLY know what God can do? When does our faith in Him get a chance to grow? It's the old analogy of driving and hitting every green light one day and then hitting every red light the next. That's happened to all of us at some point...it's only when we hit the red lights continuously that we appreciate hitting the green ones. To be honest, I don't know when things will get better but I know that they will...in His time and not a second sooner. I don't know what companies will be hiring next year and how many positions we will have the opportunity to fill...heck, I don't know what the future holds. However, I do know that I am one of God's children and He will bless me...no matter what. I've done what he's asked of me and he delivers on His promises. Things will be ok. Our country will get back on it's feet and those that are burdended with unemployment and financial uncertainty will be ok...I believe it.

Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a)

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

The Joys of Being a Step-Parent

2008-11-16T18:04:00.005-06:00

Being a stepmom is a hard job and a very thankless one sometimes. I remember back when my mom got married to Homer and how much I resented him taking my mom "away" from me. He would tell me to do something and I would roll my eyes behind his back or think evil thoughts...YOU'RE NOT MY DAD...YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!! Well, for every evil thought or selfish moment I had, I have been paid back in full. When Mike and I first got married it was a rough first year. Our marriage was great, but the transition was a tough one. I think I was under the impression I would just move my stuff in, take over the "mom" duties and all would be great. Well, I did move my stuff in, I did take over the "mom" duties, but it had a lot of ups and downs. It would be easier (for me) if Micah just didn't like her mom very much and/or she had no influence on Micah. However, that's not the case and honestly, I wouldn't want that for Micah either. She loves her mom and they have a good relationship. I know it's hard to be a child of divorce and feel like you have to choose between parents all the time and I really try to sympathize with her. Luckily, I get to spend a lot of time with her since she lives with us. We are now within a few months of our second wedding anniversary and I am proud to say that I believe Micah really loves me. I think she fights it sometimes but she knows she can count on me. I am not out to be her "friend". I just want to be a good parent to her, someone she can confide in and talk to and someone she respects. I don't always tell her what she wants to hear and I'm WAY in her business (I have to be, there's too much bad stuff kids get into these days). My hope is that when she gets older, she will appreciate the times I went out of my way to show her I love her by baking cookies for her class, making her breakfast every morning, buying her favorite stuff at the grocery store, making sure she does her chores, showing her how to cook, getting her a Star*ucks for no reason, communicating with her teachers to ensure she's doing her best in school, and even coming down on her when she's not doing well. I know I love my parents more now as an adult and appreciate them for what they taught me. Are there things I would do differently? Probably. However, I have not doubted for one second my entire life, how much they love me. My mom laughed with me, cried with me and for me and was not there to be my "friend". Homer showed me grace when he had no reason to do so, gave me freedom I didn't deserve, put braces on my teeth so I didn't have a jack-o-lantern smile and made sure I understood the importance of college. I hope I can provide that for Micah...I'm not out to replace her mom...I'm just a supplement to her life. I hope one day she "gets" that and loves me like I love Homer.

Why does it have to be so hard???

2008-11-12T13:06:00.005-06:00

So as you all have read in my previous posts, I have been on a workout 6 days a week, clean eating plan. Now, I have not been officially diagnosed by a medical professional but I feel as though I'm ready to face the facts and admit the truth...I, Krista Kittelson, have a problem. My problem is that I'm going crazy eating the same things every day and I have convinced myself I have a full-blown food addiction. Maybe I'm going crazy from watching everyone else enjoy their lives, but I am about to reach my breaking point! Since September I have been on this clean eating kick and did REALLY well the first 8 weeks...clean 6 days a week and 1 cheat meal per week with no red wine except during the cheat meal. Oh, how I love good red wine...and cheese...and crackers...and pasta....and EVERY carbohydrate known to man...oh, the madness of it all! (picture me shaking my fist towards the heavens) Since then, I've done well and stuck to it about...80% of the time....which is good...right? I think so. My justification now is that if I screw up and shove some left over Halloween candy in my mouth (they're smaller so they don't count as much :) then I will just work out harder and it will all be ok. The problem, and it's definitely a good problem to have, is that I have started seeing results and I'm terrified of going backwards and having all of this yucky food and countless number of lunges mean nothing. I am my own worst critic. I've had surgeries, diets, workout plans, etc. and still see all my flaws so I know until I change how I look at my body, then there's no "plan" out there that will satisfy me....that mental change is a work in progress. I started this post at the beginning of meal 3 today which consisted of ground turkey breast with Manwich sauce mixed in, steamed brocolli (gag), and a half piece of whole wheat pita bread. I was about to freak out from hunger (good, because it means my metabolism is working...yay metabolism!) and suddenly became very angry (another side effect from low blood sugar) and now, I am calming down. My brain has registered that there is food in my stomach and I have reached a stable mental condition for the next 3 hours. Thanks for your patience...any words of encouragement are much appreciated.

Busy Weekend...

2008-11-10T08:15:00.003-06:00

This weekend we went to our annual corporate retreat. The weather was awesome and the content of the meetings were very good. Because the place is about an hour and a half from our house, Mike and I drove out on Friday night to avoid having to get up before dawn on Saturday morning. It was so nice to have a night to ourselves out in the country. We had a good time hanging out together and played a couple of games of ping pong and shuffleboard to pass the time...it was a great way to spend a Friday night. We had a bonfire on Saturday night and made s'mores by the campfire. It was good to hang out with our co-workers in a relaxed setting and make jokes and laugh. However, it made the weekend go by way too fast and now it's back to real life. That means, working out and eating right (neither of which I did all weekend...the ranch has GREAT food!) and heading back to work. Luckily, I get to spend my Mondays with Addison so it helps me ease back into the daily grind.

This time last year...

2008-11-02T17:25:00.005-06:00

So, this past Friday I turned 36 years old. My, how time flies! We spent the weekend handing out candy on Friday and taking Addison around our neighborhood trick-or-treating (she enjoyed ringing the doorbells more than actually collecting the candy I think) and Mike and I went to dinner on Saturday night. It was a lot of fun and the food was great. On Sunday, we met my dad, Homer, and my stepmom, Marlene at Mac*roni Grill for a belated b-day lunch...when you have multiple sets of parents you get to celebrate special occasions over and over again :). I love to see Homer and although we get together every few months, we (I) need to make it a point to see him more. I can't believe he will be 79 in January! My gosh how time REALLY flies! It seems like yesterday he moved my mom and I out to Texas and I have so many wonderful memories growing up with him as my "dad". Next weekend Mike and I will go to our annual corporate retreat. Seeing Homer today reminded me of this time last year...when I had the biggest scare of my life while at that very same retreat. Homer had gone in to get his gall bladder removed (something I had badgered him to do, I might add). It's simple day surgery...not a big deal at all. In fact, my mom had it done a couple of years ago and had no issues at all. Well, I called to check on him the afternoon of the surgery and was told he was on a respirator and in ICU. WHAT??? The anesthesiologist had given him a drug to slow down his body because near the end of the procedure, his heart rate went up. I know he was very apprehensive about having the surgery and I am sure he was anxious, even when he was put under. Homer cannot take beta blockers as he is highly sensitive to them. In short, they can kill him and in November 2007, that almost happened. He stayed in ICU on a respirator with his heart rate and blood pressure going up and down for about three days. I have never been so scared in my entire life. He looked so feeble and weak and didn't deserve to go through this. Having to watch your parent struggle for breath and fight for their life is a heart wrenching experience and one I wouldn't wish on anyone. For one week last November, I would leave my house at 6am every morning and drive to the southwest side of Ft. Worth to sit by his bed. It was dark when I left in the morning and dark when I returned at night. They had to restrain his arms because when he would come out of the drug induced sleep, he would try and remove the breathing tube. He had no idea what had gone wrong and even once they removed it, he was so out of it he would call out to his mom (I guess we all want our mothers when we are sick...no matter how old we get) and even called out to Cleo, the dog we had growing up and the dog Homer loved with all his heart. It took him about a month or two to recover enough to return to work and get his strength and appetite back. One year later, I am happy to say he looks great and there were no lasting effects from his ordeal. Looking at him today, I am reminded of how much I love him and how much he means to me. I am so blessed to have him as my dad and thankful God brought him into my life. I wish, as every child of divorce does, that things would've turned out differently with he and my mom, but he is in a happy place and for that I am truly thankful. I pray that he will have continued good health and be a part of my life for many years to come. Here's to you Homer!

The ABC's

2008-10-28T13:42:00.005-05:00

I saw this posting on Andrea's blog and thought it would be fun to complete and post. Since I have no original thought today I have chosen to be a copy-cat!

A - Age: 35...until Friday.
B - Band listening to right now: the radio is on in the background and I don't know who the band is but the song is on the radio a lot
C - Career future: recruiter....frustrated chef...maybe mom one day??? We'll see.
D - Dad's name: Homer...:)
E - Easiest person to talk to: my mom...I don't have to hold back at all except for the curse words which sometimes escape my mouth
F - Favorite type of shoe: most beautiful...Christian Louboutin and Stuart Weitzman...most comfortable...my thong house shoes
G – Grapes or Grapefruit: grapes...they have a lot of sugar though so I rarely buy them
H – Hometown: Macon, GA
I – Instrumental talent: none...I can't play anything
J – Juice of choice: none...I don't like juice all that much and the only time I will drink it is if it's fresh squeezed with pulp in it, otherwise I am out. I blame my mom...she put sweet tea in my bottle which I have now started doing with Addison in her cup...she loves it :) Grandma's rule!
K – Koala Bear or Panda Bear: Koala until I went to a zoo in Australia...they stink really bad so now I would choose a panda
L - Longest car ride ever: the longest car ride was a family vacation from Ft. Worth to southern CA...by way of Vegas and San Francisco and down the Pacific Coast Hwy to LA...what felt the longest was the ride to Lance's wedding this summer out in the middle of nowhere
M – Middle name: Laree but I use my maiden name of Dowd for my middle name...Laree is some crazy made up name my mom came up with
N - Number of jobs you've had: 4...worked in a mall management office while in high school and early college and then Out*ack Steak*ouse as a waitress in college....outside salesperson for a temporary staffing firm and then KBIC as a recruiter for the last 10 years
O- OCD traits: so, so many...no dishes in the sink, can't leave without making up the bed, don't go to bed with the throw pillows on the couch all jacked up, basically my house is always surface clean...maybe some dust on baseboards but that's about it...can't go to bed with make-up on, have to pay bills the morning of payday as I have a hard time functioning until I know our checking account balance...yes, I am crazy
P - Phobia[s]: small, confined places...the thought of being trapped in an elevator with lots of people in it makes me freak out inside
Q - Quote: "Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are, for what you could become".
S - Song you sang last: one of the praise hymns at church on Sunday
T - Time you wake up: 6am if I'm going walking, 6:30am for work days, 7:30am for weekends...I so wish I could sleep later but my body won't let me and neither will my dogs :(
U - Unknown fact about me: I can move my left hip out of socket and back in...so gross
V - Vegetable you hate: turnip greens/collard greens/mustard greens...I can cook them but will not eat them
W - Worst habit: being negative...work on this one every day...I like to say I'm a realist :), worrying too much about things I have zero control over
X - X-rays you've had: just had my knees and hip x-ray'd (see letter U above), chest and shoulder blade, mammogram
Y - Yummiest food my belly likes: fried foods or starchy carbs...potatoes, corn, pasta, bread
Z - Zodiac sign: Scorpio

Oh Yes It's Ladies Night...

2008-10-24T16:07:00.004-05:00

My girlfriends and I went to dinner last night. It seems like we all get so busy that we don't get any "girl time" anymore so we are going to try and meet once a month for dinner. We met up about 6:30 and definitely spent some good time togehter. I have known Holly the longest...about 11 years now. She and I worked together at my current company (before she became a mommy to Noah and Aidan) and also at our previous firm. We actually started work at KBIC the same day. It's funny how God works sometimes. Holly and I interviewed with just about everyone at KBIC and she decided to join Jeff's team (she thought he was such a cool guy...sweet...loves kids...coached a girl's soccer team...thoughtful...cries at the drop of a hat...can you see where I'm going here?) I joined Mike's team and we all know how that turned out. As things happen, we both married the loves of our lives! Holly is the friend who just has her stuff together. You won't see her very often without lipstick...in fact, you will never catch her without it unless you sneak in her house and wake her from a dead sleep. She has the best fashion sense of ANYONE I know and I know if I get her approval on an outfit, then I must look good. She is also an excellent decorator, knows all the latest trends in fashion, is an excellent entertainer who always has all the cool table and serving ware you see in magazines and she and her kids are always "put together". She's a great mom and has the patience of Job and can leap tall buildings in a single bound. I love my Holly and at the same time I can be so envious of her. Did I mention she's had two kids and could pose in the Sport Illustrated swimsuit issue?

I met Karen about seven years ago when she came to work at KBIC and joined our construction team. She is the friend who can make me laugh the most. We have the same sense of humor and joke that we should get married someday (just kidding O*ama). Our relationship has had it's fair share of ups and downs but the downs have made us the great friends we are today. Who says you can't be your friends boss, not treat her real well (huge lesson learned), let her go and join another team and wind up loving each other so much?

Kelly Jo (KJ) moved down from Iowa with her daughter Alex about eight years ago and hit Dallas like a tornado. She's loud, sometimes brash, loves to dance and drink some good wine and she can be fiercely intimidating to other women. However, once you get to know her, you love her and you find that she's got a heart of gold and will do anything for her "girls". Although she's going through some tough times right now she will pull through and come back stronger and better than she is now. Hopefully we took her mind off her worries last night...at least for a little while. Love you KJ and I'm proud of you and support you always.

Lauren is the newest and youngest addition to the crew. We all first met her when she was an intern with our company and she did such a good job that she was hired full-time by our finance department. Oddly enough, her boss became her husband and they have a sweet baby boy, Holden. I think I love Lauren even more after our dinner last night. She is the person who doesn't pull any punches. You want the truth? Fasten your seat belt and get ready. She's not afraid to call you out and give you her opinion. There are some times she says things that make your jaw drop and laugh at the same time because you can't believe what she just said...at least out loud. But, I love it and respect her for it. Isn't that what you want from a true friend?

We had a great time last night and had some good conversation, shed some tears, laughed at each other, shed some tears, made fun of each other, shed some more tears, and got caught up on everything. I love my friends and cherish each of them for who they are and what they bring to my life.

My Vote Counted

2008-10-20T13:22:00.005-05:00

Well today I did my civic duty...I voted! Early voting started today and I went, along with two of my friends, Karen and Joey and my stepdaughter, Ashley. It was a milestone for Ashley because she has not had the opportunity to vote before...she was too young last time and it was Karen's first time to vote too...she wasn't too young but just had not voted...luckily she has her well informed friend to guide her. :) I am honestly scared about the election. My personal opinion is that this is one of the biggest elections in our nation's history. We will either have our first African-American President or our first female Vice-President. Either way, it is definitely one for the history books. I keep telling Micah to pay attention as she will study this further in high school but like most young teens, she is more worried about what she will wear tomorrow than any political stuff. I can't say I blame her...there's a lot less stress for her that's for sure! As people tend to do once you get older and start paying taxes, all that political stuff becomes very important. I have been glued to F*x News. My belief is that they are the only media source that gives the whole story. I feel like I'm pretty "up" on what's going on with the election and the candidate's political platforms but I am sure I have much more to learn. I have even resorted to listening to the channel mentioned above while driving...thank goodness for satellite radio! I believe the fate of our country is in God's hands...I am not listening to the pollsters who of course have the election already won by a certain eloquent speaker :) I will continue to pray that God will watch over our great nation and put the person in charge who will follow His word and plan. In short, educate yourself! Read everything you can and be an informed American! Know who you are casting your vote for and make sure your beliefs line up with theirs. EVERY vote counts and it's a privilege to be able to have a say...many have died to give us that right.
Ok, that's my rant...I will do my best to be more amusing in my next post. :)

Lovin' this Weather

2008-10-16T17:25:00.008-05:00

I love this time of year! Autumn is my favorite season and I am so ready for the cooler weather! I love feeling the crispness of the air and the smell of anything with pumpkin and cinnamon, whether it be candles or something fresh baked (not on my eating plan but definitely for cheat day). I think God knew just how much of the hot weather we could take and just about the time I am ready to pack up my house and head to Colorado, a cold front blows in. There are so many things to look forward to in the next few months...Halloween (my b-day, but I'm not counting those anymore), Thanksgiving, a fire in the fireplace, hot apple cider, opening the windows during the day to let the cool breeze in, pumpkin spice candles, sweaters, Starbucks hot drinks, and the beautiful fall colors...take note of the trees...they will turn all kinds of beautiful colors in the next few weeks.

For the past four years, Mike and I have headed to Bar Harbor, Maine and two of those times were during the fall months. THAT place is beautiful and just being surrounded by God's magnificent creations are truly humbling. The scenery is just beautiful and there are so many places to walk and hike in Acadia National Park. We have a favorite inn we stay at too and this time of year makes me long to be there. We are taking a break this year and will miss the trip to Maine but if you ever get the chance and want to go to a place where you can chill out, wear no make-up and eat some amazing lobster then you need to head to Bar Harbor, Maine.

So, in the next few weeks, get out and enjoy the weather...go for a long walk, head to the dog park with your dog (Lola loves it although I think she gets overstimulated and her breathing goes haywire), have a picnic with your kids in the park or bake something yummy and curl up with a good book. Most of all, relax and take time for what's important before we all go crazy with the upcoming holiday season.

http://www.basscottage.com/

Ramblings from KK

2008-10-14T12:49:00.004-05:00

When Mike and I got married, I became a Grandma to Addison who was just over a year old at that time. Does being a grandparent at 34 mess with your head? Yes, it does. Does being called anything remotely close to Grandma, Nanny, Grandmother, Granna, Nana, etc. mess with your head? Yes, it does. So, my mom came up with the idea that Addison could call me KK. It's cute, simple, easy to say and it is my initials after all. :) Sometimes it's kind of weird that I have a granddaughter when I've never even been a real mom, but it has been an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. I get to keep her one day a week and since I am blessed to have a flexible schedule, I sometimes get to keep her even more. I have had to make my house somewhat kid friendly and I bought my fair share of sippy cups, diapers, pull-ups, spoons, juice boxes and her favorite "Cinderella Snacks" and "Belle Snacks"...that's code for fruit snacks. I can also sing along to the Wonder Pets theme song as well as tell you their names.

I am getting lots of practice taking care of Addie and I can definitely say that the 2-3 year-old ages are so great! She talks really well and she says the funniest things! A few weeks ago, Mike took her to the park in our neighborhood and was pushing her on the swing when she said, "That hurts my feelings Pe Paw." (he's more open to the traditional grandparent name, obviously). Mike said, "Why does me pushing you on the swing hurt your feelings?" She said, "because...it does...it hurts my feelings." I guess she heard that phrase somewhere and was trying to find the right time to break it out. It made us laugh so hard.

I am learning that the world moves really, really fast and to view it through the eyes of child will really make you think. She cares about all animals although she doesn't care to touch "yucky" ones like worms and frogs. EVERY child is her friend. She loves flowers and wants to smell ALL of them...even when they don't smell. She doesn't gobble her food down (like I do). In fact, she eats so slow sometimes, especially if there's any type of ranch dressing or ketchup to dip the food into, that I have to walk away or else I'll sneak a bite. She's never in a hurry. Need to go potty? Take your time. Need to walk through the grocery store or mall? Take your time. Need to brush your teeth? Take all the time you need...just make sure you rinse the toothbrush multiple times and suck all the toothpaste off the brush. Gotta boo boo? Get the band-aids...lots of them and make sure you kiss it.

Maybe we should all slow down. Perhaps this crazy economy and the cutbacks we are all having to make will make us stop and take note of what God created. He made all the beauty in the world just for us to look at and enjoy. Why should Addison be the only one who notices it? This KK is definitely going to try and slow down to enjoy more of it with her.

I Sound Like Demi Moore...or a Chain Smoker

2008-10-11T16:17:00.003-05:00

So, it's been a rough week, health-wise. What started out as an allergy attack on Sunday ended up being a cold. It's Saturday and my voice is shot. I still have one but just barely. I entertained myself in the car today trying to sing along with the radio...it sounded awesome! :) My diet and workouts this week have suffered. I haven't eaten as much I as I need to and what I have eaten hasn't been "clean". Who really wants broccoli, chicken and brown rice when they are sick? No, you want tomato soup or chicken noodle soup and your mom, right? I have eaten a lot of soup the past two days and cancelled Thursday and Fridays workouts. I just didn't think I could force myself to lift a weight or do any jumping jacks or mountain climbers. Besides, no need to get everyone else sick. But, it's a beautiful day today and Mike and I did manage to get out this morning for a 45 minute brisk walk. THAT felt good. I am hoping to take advantage of Mike being out of the house playing golf and catch a quick nap. Maybe when I wake up my voice will be back?

Thursday Thoughts

2008-10-09T12:21:00.002-05:00

We are all concerned about the economy, the election, and the state of our nation. I include myself in that group or worry-warts. However, the Bible says when we worry, we aren't really trusting God. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done and it's a daily struggle for me to remember who is really in control. As my pastor says, "We are in God's economy". If that's the case, and I believe it is, then how can we go wrong? There are a lot of people suffering in our country right now...people who have seen their 401K's lose thousands and thousands of dollars (myself included), who have lost their jobs (I get calls from candidates on a daily basis who have been laid off) and companies who were financially strong a year ago, who are now shutting their doors. It's enough to really beat you down and when you have a job like Mike and I do where our income comes directly from placing people at companies who have hiring needs...this is a scary, scary, time. I so admire and respect Mike for having the trust in the Lord that he does. He is not a worrier and I am getting better, but it's hard. So, for all of you who worry enough for all of us, maybe this will help you remember who is REALLY in charge.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 NIV

Things I am thankful for today...

2008-10-08T13:18:00.004-05:00

1. The weather is beautiful!
2. My family and sweet husband.
3. My friendships with my girlfriends.
4. LOLA!!! I love her so much...slobber, snoring, eating poop and all.
5. Addison...she helps me remember to slow down and listen to the birds chirp.
6. My home...I love it, it's so cozy inside.
7. The State Fair of Texas! I am going on Monday when Micah's out of school.
8. The bills are paid!
9. Lipstick Jun*le comes on tonight...shallow, I know, but I love that show.
10. Starbucks coffee and skinny lattes.

My Poor Nose!

2008-10-07T17:35:00.004-05:00

Is it possible to blow your nose too much? I mean, how can there be THAT much mucus (ok, I realize that's gross) in your head...at least I guess that's where it's stored. So, I had this major allergy attack on Sunday afternoon and I attributed it to the windy weather and the change of seasons. I was sneezy and I mean sneezy. I could sneeze 15 times in a row...it was crazy. My eyes itched, my throat itched and my ears even itched. Now, my throat has been sore and I think it's just sinus drainage but man, it sure does make you feel bad. Bena*ryl and Suda*ed have become my best friends the past two days, along with my trusty tissues. However, I am determined to fight it off and push through...even made it to the gym today to continue my quest to lunge the entire state of Texas. Of course I'm kidding, but I really do believe I have covered some serious ground by now. I only ate 3 times today and will probably only have dinner so it will be a total of 4 times...I just can't do it today. Hopefully my metabolism will understand. :)

Losing inches...one day at a time

2008-10-06T19:30:00.007-05:00

If you own a gym you HAVE to work out right? I have been working out over the past few years and have had moderate gains. But, we all know it's what we put into our mouth that makes the most difference. This Southern gal loves food!! I adore it...I like to eat it, shop for it, read about it, watch Food N**twork, and even spent a quarter in culinary school last year. Growing up, I don't think I had very many things that weren't fried or that didn't include some bacon grease...for flavoring of course. Don't we want everything we eat to taste like bacon?? My mom used to fry bacon for breakfast every morning when I was in school. That all stopped the day I got into the car with my friend who at that time had a driver's license and I didn't, and she said, "I love the way you smell when you get into the car...just like bacon...makes me so hungry!" Seriously? I had been walking around smelling like pork? At 15, that scars you. I have watched shows where they talk about emotional eating, eating to fill a void, blah, blah, blah. I have always wondered, "What about the people who just like to eat?" Where do they fit in?

All of that being said, the first week of September, I started a rigid eating program. This was to shock my body and lose some body fat, which by the way, when I was informed of what it is, I was certain there was some sort of gross miscalculation. I am not overweight at all but I just started feeling like my clothes were a little too snug to be comfortable and all I really wanted to wear was sweats...ahh, so comfy and roomy. So, I am on Day 30 and eat very clean all week with one "cheat", "reward" or whatever you want to call it.."good" is what I call it, meal per week. Ahhh, how I look forward to those meals.

My meals consist mainly of the items pictured in this post with lots of grilled chicken, grilled fish and salads thrown in. Am I sick of it? YES. Have I eaten the same thing for breakfast just about every day? YES. Have I had to prepare fattening meals for my daughter and then eat grilled chicken and steamed broccoli for dinner? YES. Has it been just terrible? NO. It's not that bad once you get used to it and for a foodie, that's a huge realization. I will keep you posted on my progress. No substantial weight loss yet, but I am losing body fat and my pants are getting loose so for that, I am excited. Oh yeah, I am also working out with a trainer 5 days per week (one of the blessings of owning a gym) and climbing those darn stairs three times per week and eating 5 times per day, which coincidentally is the hardest part. Gotta keep that metabolism up!

A Lesson in Faith

2008-10-06T19:23:00.004-05:00

About two years ago my husband and four of our friends decided it would be a good idea to purchase the gym we all work out at. It's a small, boutique gym close to where we work and it was struggling to survive due to bad management. Mike had a vision of how the place could really look if it had the "right" people in place. Sooo, we bought it! That being said, it's been a long road over the past two years...almost three now, but I know the Lord has had His hand in it and it continues to grow each month. I keep telling myself He is trying to teach us something through this whole process and it's taking much faith on my part to wait and see what that is...everything is always done on His time right? I have admired how Mike will pray for the gym EVERYTIME we pass it on the highway. He has been an example of great faith and being the only believer in the partnership, he has given any success we have had to the Lord. I am hoping and praying it becomes a profitable investment...soon...please Lord.

Getting Started...

2008-10-06T09:46:00.000-05:00

Over the past several years, I have so enjoyed reading my sweet friend from high school, Kim's blog. She has always been so creative...even when we were 12 years-old. It's been fun to keep up with her and her family over the years. I am not the artsy, creative type, but I thought I would at least give it a try and start a blog of my family. Bear with me, it's a work in progress and I'm learning as I go!